Gomez goes from waiver-wire fodder to Game 2 star

Crack, boom, bam, a guy with a .259 average in only 89 major league games, a guy with just one homer and 11 RBI in only 158 career at-bats, equals his career homer output and pops for more than 30 percent of his career RBI output.

"We didn't have a whole lot on him," A's manager Ken Macha said when asked what he knew about Gomez going into the game. "He's pinch hit against us a couple of times. We didn't have a whole lot of information."

They do now. The newest scouting report: Be wary of the 5:30 hitter in the playoffs. He just might show that he's ready for prime time.

"He's got that home run pop where he can run into one," injured Detroit first baseman Sean Casey said. "He takes the best batting practice I've ever seen. Sometimes it translates, sometimes it doesn't. He just crushes 'em in batting practice. He hits 'em high and deep on almost every swing."

Said Rodriguez: "He has a lot of heart. He's always there. He never gives up. He works hard. He works with (coach) Andy Van Slyke in the hitting cage every day."

Great night for the Tigers. Wait, check that, grrrrreat night for the Tigers. For Dombrowski, it was simply his latest Branch Rickey moment. Luck, the legendary old-time front office man was fond of saying, is the residue of design.

For Gomez, for Leyland, for the Tigers and their legion of fans in Michigan and across the country, this night was designed back in late August.