2 former Yankees were at the forefront of Tigers’ killer ALDS Game 5 loss

It might not be much solace for New York Yankees fans, but at least their team didn't go down in the heartbreaking fashion the Detroit Tigers did. The Tigers, in a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Seattle Mariners, ended up losing on a walk-off Jorge Polanco single in the bottom of the 15th.

At the center of Detroit's Game 5 disappointment were two familiar faces. Two Yankee defectors made their way to the Motor City last offseason, and both played crucial roles in the defeat. Those players were none other than Gleyber Torres and Tommy Kahnle.

Former Yankees Gleyber Torres and Tommy Kahnle were instrumental in the Tigers' 15-inning ALDS elimination

The writing was on the wall for Torres and the Yankees at last year's trade deadline, when the once-promising shortstop-turned-second baseman refused to move to third base to accommodate the defensively superior Jazz Chisholm Jr. after the latter had been acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins.

Torres' uneven final season in pinstripes forced him to settle for a one-year, $15 million contract with the Tigers, hoping that he'd return to the free-agent market and land a $100 million-plus deal after a year away from the bright Bronx spotlight.

Torres couldn't simply be satisfied with the fresh start and took it upon himself to get involved with a good bit of sniping with the Yankees, and Brian Cashman in particular.

Kahnle, on the other hand, left on much more amicable terms. While the Yankees had some interest in reuniting with the veteran righty, he ultimately moved up to Michigan, where his season was a tale of two halves.

With 34 appearances through June 30, Kahnle had a 1.77 ERA, making Yankees fans wish he had never left. However, Kahnle had an incredibly rough July and never fully recovered. From July 1 onward, the changeup artist lost his feel for the pitch and got knocked around to the tune of a 7.90 ERA.

Fighting for their ticket to the ALCS, both of these ex-Yankees laid eggs. Torres, batting second for Detroit, went 0-6 with a walk and two strikeouts in what was a complete no-show from the heart of the Tigers' lineup. With Torres' mark included, the two-through-five hitters combined to go 0-23 with 10 strikeouts.

As for Kahnle, his role was the most devastating as the man on the mound in the bottom of the 15th. He began the inning by giving off a leadoff single to Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford and quickly followed that up by hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch.

He did manage to get Cal Raleigh to line out to center, but the runners would advance on a Parker Meadows throwing error. Kahnle would intentionally walk the next batter, Julio Rodriguez, which loaded the bases. Jorge Polanco would come up next and end it all with a walk-off single, handing Detroit a 3-2 defeat.

You have to feel for Kahnle, being at the center of a dramatic meltdown like that. The Tigers probably never should have called on him in such a situation given his struggles and the fact Jack Flaherty was dealing the two innings prior. As for Torres, well, can't say that we're surprised.

We'll see if this coming offseason treats them we'll, but we're no so sure it will after their struggles were magnified in the biggest moment of the playoffs yet.