How about Cliff Pennington? After a season with just a .589 OPS, the A's second baseman narrowly missed hitting the foul pole by inches, then laid off some close pitches, settling for a one-out walk.
Danny Worth, in at shortstop after pinch-running for Peralta, made a neat ranging play to retire the lead runner, likely leaving several Detroit fans confused that shortstops could do that. Stephen Drew shot a liner to right field to move the runners to the corners.
But reliever Al Alburquerque replaced Coke to face Yoenis Cespedes, forcing him to ground back to the pitcher, ending the rally. Time for the bottom of the ninth.