It is not over until it is over.

But you can't help thinking the Athletics' best chance to get back into this game has come and gone.

In the top of the eighth -- with Justin Verlander out of the game, having thrown 128 pitches -- Jim Leyland did what usually does, and summoned setup man Joaquin Benoit from the bullpen. Stephen Drew led off, and grounded back to Benoit. But Yoenis Cespedes laced a single into left-center. And then Brandon Moss saw a change-up and put a charge into it ...

That's how terribly close the A's game to tying Game 1. Instead it's still 3-1 Tigers, as Benoit struck out Josh Reddick to escape the inning. In the ninth, the A's will undoubtedly face closer Jose Valverde, who was almost perfect last year but has been a bit less perfect this year. So no, it's not over. Not quite.