The formula for the Detroit Tigers to beat the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS was clear and obvious:

Play clean, solid defense by doing all the little things right.

Generate some offense, any offense − preferably before the ninth inning of a blowout.

Keep the Mariners from hitting the ball out of the park;

And don’t just let Miguel Cabrera throw out the first pitch, which was a really nice touch. Quietly slip him into a uniform to help the Tigers’ offense.

But the Tigers did none of the above in Game 3 at Comerica Park on Tuesday, Oct.7, as the Mariners hit three homers and hung on for an 8-4 victory over the Tigers . That has left the Tigers in a seriously dire predicament because Seattle can win this best-of-five series with a win in Game 4 on Wednesday in Comerica Park. Casey

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