By George Eichorn
What a game! The Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros had drama and intrigue wrapped up with a bow last Friday night at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.
Framber Valdez of the Astros had a shutout and no-hitter through seven innings yet manager Dusty Baker took Valdez out after his 114-pitch performance. In came relief pitcher Bryan Abreau.
Pinch hitting for second baseman Andy Ibanez was outfielder Kerry Carpenter who was batting a robust .455 (5×11) during Detroit’s home stand and .333 in his last 10 games.Carpenter garnered the Tigers’ first hit of the game, a single with one out. But first baseman Spencer Torkelson grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the 8th inning with the Astros still leading 1-0.
The punchless Astros only had one hit to go with that one run as starter Matt Manning (6.1 innings) and relievers Brendan White (1.2 innings) and Alex Lange (1 inning) gave the Tigers a chance to compete against the 72-57 Astros. The Tigers entered the game 58-69.
Right-handed relief ace Ryan Pressley of Houston entered the ninth inning with 28 saves in 32 chances this season. The ninth inning would be Pressley’s to win or lose.
Pressly struck out the first two batters he faced – pinch-hitter Akil Baddoo and outfielder Riley Greene. Up came future Hall of Famer and DH Miguel Cabrera playing in his 21st and final season. He was zero for two with a walk in three previous plate appearances.
Cabrera got a crucial hit – slapping a single to center field – giving the Tigers some hope to tie the game (or win it). Next, outfielder Zach McKinstry pinch-hit for third baseman Zack Short. McKinstry promptly singled to right field giving Detroit two runs on with two outs. New catcher Carson Kelly pinch ran for Miggy at second.
Up next was shortstop Javier Baez, not having much of a season at the dish, who drove yet another single to center field. Kelly scored with McKinstry moving to third base, Baez was on second on the throw. Astros skipper Baker was “riding the rapids” with closer Pressley.
Rookie center fielder Parker Meadows was next up. The setting was magnificent as the youngster had two Tigers in scoring position with two outs. Nearly 24,000 fans rose to their feet to see if the ninth inning rally would be completed.
Meadows worked the count to 2-1. On the next pitch he smashed the ball into the right field stands as the team and fans were overcome with emotion – a walk-off home run by the rookie – his first Major League homer and first RBI.
McKinstry and Baez scored ahead of Meadows. The Tigers rallied for four runs in the noth to defeat the Astros 4-1. Ironically, manager AJ Hinch was ejected by home plate umpire Liaz Diaz in the seventh inning so all this excitement came with George Lombard acting as the Tigers skipper.
Meadows, whose older brother Austin Meadows has been on the Detroit injured list since April 7 with anxiety issues, became the first Tiger to hit a walk-off home run for his first big league homer since Greene on July 2, 2022 vs. Kansas City. According to Stats Perform, Meadows is the only MLB player to have a walk-off, three-run homer or grand slam in the bottom of the ninth for his first career RBI since RBI became an official stat in 1920.
The game was Detroit’s 28th come-from-behind win of the season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time the Tigers have won a game after being no-hit through 7.0 innings since September 2, 1987 vs. Cleveland.
Truly this was a night to remember at Comerica Park!
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
