It was a gritty, come-from-behind win for the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, as they edged the Atlanta Braves 5-2 in Game 32 of the season. For fans who love seeing the team dig deep and deliver in the clutch, this one had plenty to celebrate—and a few moments that left us scratching our heads.

One thing I loved: Matt Vierling's breakout performance

Talk about a day that changes the narrative! After a rough stretch where Vierling managed just one hit in his previous seven games and went hitless in four straight, he exploded for a multi-hit, two-RBI game that nearly single-handedly kept the Tigers alive. His eighth-inning double—a tomahawk chop down the third-base line that scored Kerry Carpenter from second after a leadoff triple—tied the game at 2-2 and sent a jolt through the dugout. He followed that up with an insurance run in the ninth, roping a top-spinning ball past the third baseman to score Wenceel Perez. (The official scorers ruled it an error in left field, but Vierling still got credit for a hit.)

Vierling's first hit of the day was a thing of beauty: a looping opposite-field single into right that brought Riley Greene home from second with two outs in the sixth. It wasn't the hardest-hit ball, but it was perfectly placed—and exactly the kind of timely hitting the Tigers have been craving from their outfielders. His last multi-hit game came on April 19 in Boston, so this was a welcome return to form. For a team looking for production from its center-field fill-ins (with Parker Meadows and Javy Báez sidelined), Vierling's performance was a bright spot. He even put himself in scoring position to cross home plate on a Torres sacrifice fly later in the eighth.

One thing I didn't love: The double pinch-hitting gamble that backfired

Manager AJ Hinch rolled the dice in the eighth inning, inserting Dillon Dingler for Jake Rogers and then Jahmai Jones for Colt Keith. On paper, it made sense—avoiding a lefty-lefty matchup for Keith was a smart move. But in practice, it fell flat. Dingler went down looking, and Jones swung through a high heater with two strikes. The strikeouts killed the momentum, and for a team that had just tied the game, it was a frustrating way to squander a scoring opportunity. Sometimes the bold move doesn't pay off, and this was one of those nights.

Still, the Tigers' offense showed some life. The top of the order created plenty of traffic, with Kevin McGonigle and Riley Greene combining for five walks. If they can keep getting on base and let guys like Vierling come through with the big hits, this lineup has the potential to turn things around. For now, Thursday's win was a step in the right direction—and a reminder that baseball can change in a single inning.