For the third straight season, there was a one-game playoff to determine the final participant in the playoffs. This season, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins squared off in a classic ballgame in the Metrodome, which was facing its final Twins game. This game was exactly what you want from a one-game playoff. There was intensity in the air from the first pitch and bunch of comebacks. For everyone who complained that the stretch run of this baseball season did not have enough drama, I REALLY hoped they watched this game as the pesky Twins defeated the Tigers 6-5 in 12 innings to capture the AL Central title in front of over 54,000 fans.

For anyone who missed the game, or wants a recap, check out this comprehensive wrap up of the 2009 season’s only 163rd game!

The Tigers took an early lead in the top of the 3rd with a little strategy and a lot of power against Twins SP Scott Baker. With one out, manager Jim Leyland called for the hit and run, which saved the inning as Placido Polanco grounded to second. Curtis Granderson ended up safe at second, which set up the first run of the game on a Magglio Ordonez single up the middle. The next hitter, Miguel Cabrera, amongst chants of ‘alcoholic,’ homered to DEEP center field to put the Tigers up 3-0.

Tigers SP Rick Porcello was incredible in his 5 2/3 innings, as he struck out 8 men. He allowed an unearned run in the third on a botched pickoff attempt and allowed his only earned run on a Jason Kubel homer in the bottom of the 6th. Porcello may or may not win the AL Rookie of the Year, but this performance was tremendous for Detroit. It’s not easy to pitch in a pressure packed game with a lead, especially as a 20-year old rookie.

In the bottom of the 7th, as the Twins trailed 3-2 and were down to their last round of the lineup, but you knew they wouldn’t go down that easy! The spark plug of their late season comeback, Orlando Cabrera, drilled a 2-run homer off Zach Miner into the first row in left field. Cabrera was pumped as usual as he glided around the bases and the fans waved their Homer Hankies. The ball was just barely out of the reach of LF Ryan Raburn, but it gave the Twins their first lead of the game at 4-3.

Before the Twins could even enjoy their one-run lead, the Tigers tied it right up on a Magglio Ordonez leadoff homer in the 8th inning. It is only Ordonez’s 9th homerun of the season, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. Twins closer Joe Nathan came into the game a few batters later to finish up the inning.

More drama ensued in the top of the 9th as Nathan put runners on first and third with no one out. It looked as if the Tigers would take the lead, but after a rare strikeout of Polanco, Ordonez lined out to short and Cabrera doubled off Granderson at first base to end the inning. Talk about a big play! Nathan did a double fist pump as he jumped off the mound to celebrate the big double play. Just like that, the momentum jumped away from the Tigers.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Twins looked for the walkoff after a leadoff walk to Nick Punto as the Tigers brought in their closer Fernando Rodney. With a man on second and one out, Tigers 3B Brandon Inge made a great diving stop to his left to save a hit and the game for Detroit. After an intentional walk to Joe Mauer, Carlos Gomez, the defensive replacement for Kubel, grounded out to short to end the 9th inning.

The 10th inning brought a continuation of all the excitement from innings prior. The Tigers took a 5-4 lead when Inge shot a double down the left field line to score pinch-runner Don Kelly. The Tigers bench was thrilled to take the lead with their closer already in the game.

Like I said, the 10th inning maintained excitement – starting with the leadoff hitter. Michael Cuddyer hit a leadoff triple as Ryan Raburn tried to make a sliding catch on a blooper, but it rolled all the way to the wall. It was truly a TERRIBLE play with a one-run lead in extra innings and no one out. The next hitter Delmon Young chopped a ball to short that couldn’t score the run and that was followed by a walk to Brendan Harris. Now with men on the corners and one out, the Tigers looked for a double play to end the game and got a chopper from Matt Tolbert up the middle, but Polanco couldn’t get it on the hop as it went into center field to tie the game. Pinch-runner Alexi Casilla moved over to third to put runners on the corners with only one out. With an opportunity to win the game, Nick Punto lined out to left field and Casilla was barely thrown out at the plate for the third out. It was the second HUGE double play in the game, this time by the Tigers. Raburn sort of made up for his misplay in left earlier in the inning by throwing out the winning run at the plate.

After an uneventful 11th, the Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the 12th with one out and Brandon Inge at the plate. Inge chopped a ball to second and the second baseman Punto made the right choice to throw home for the force out. There was no way that Punto could have turned two as Inge hustled down the line after chopping the ball off the turf. It came down to Gerald Laird with a full count and Bob Keppel struck him out to end yet another major threat by the Tigers. The Twins were running out of lives as the game moved to the bottom of the 12th, tied at 5-5.

In the bottom of the 12th inning, Gomez led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Cuddyer ground out. After Young was intentionally walked, Casilla came up, with some prior success off Rodney, who was pitching his third inning. Casilla continued that success was a ground ball base hit to right easily scoring the speedy Gomez for the walkoff win.

So there you have it, one of the best games ever played ends with a walkoff hit by Alexi Casilla for the Minnesota Twins. They will move on to play the New York Yankees in less than 24 hours with a used up bullpen, but they couldn’t care about that at all at this point. The Metrodome lives on for at least one more game, after the Tigers gave the huge crowd a ton of scares. The Yankees have owned the Twins with a 7-0 record against them this year, but I know they were watching, and they won’t take them lightly.