What happened: Jake Bauers connected for a postseason home run to cap an 11-pitch at-bat during the October playoff run. The extended plate appearance followed an earlier 12-pitch postseason battle in which he fouled off six consecutive pitches.

Why it matters: Bauers nearly walked away from professional baseball before crediting his wife's pregnancy and the need for health insurance for bringing him back. His ability to work deep counts has turned a roster depth piece into a pivotal postseason contributor.

What to watch: Bauers remains a fixture in the postseason lineup as the series continues with a World Series berth on the line.