DETROIT – Walking up to Comerica Park yesterday, the mood was hopeful, and the vibes were high.
Joyful locals played their instruments and sang in the streets, fans flooded the gates in their orange and blue, and the crisp fall air sent the occasional chill down the spines of baseball fans who were lucky enough to take the day off work.
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Ushers handed 37,000 fans orange rally towels as they entered the ballpark.
Inside, the sound of anticipatory fans, the PA announcer, and the smell of ballpark food filled the air.
Fans took their seats, and the Tigers’ no. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft, Casey Mize, took the mound against the Seattle Mariners.
He got out of the first inning unscathed, retiring Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, and Julio Rodriguez one-by-one.
Second inning, former division rival Josh Naylor smacks a 99 mph double down the right field line. Later in the inning, Dominic Canzone singles down the right field line to score Naylor. Tigers down 1-0.
Fast forward to the top of the fourth inning, Tigers manager AJ Hinch took Mize out of the game after three innings, two hits, one run, and six strikeouts.
Tyler Holton takes the mound to face the top of the Mariners lineup. Naylor and Eugenio Suarez both hit singles. The next batter, Mitch Garver, walks.
Enter Kyle Finnegan. He induces the double play the Tigers need, but a run scores. 2-0 Mariners.
Arozarena began the next inning with a single, and took second base on a wild pitch by Finnegan. American League RBI and home run leader, Cal Raleigh, steps up to the plate. He smacks a 105 mph single to right field. 3-0 Mariners.
The energy in Comerica Park felt as if someone had deflated a balloon. After a tough loss the night before and the Tigers struggling to hit with runners in scoring position, 3-0 felt like 10-0 to emotional Tiger fans.
Bottom of the fifth inning, Spencer Torkelson up to bat. He takes a splitter from Miller and hits it to center field for a single. Next batter, Zach McKinstry, grounds into a force out. Torkelson is out at second, and McKinstry takes first base.
Next batter is Dillon Dingler. He hits a fastball 109 mph off the bat for a double to score McKinstry. 3-1 Mariners, and that ends Miller’s day.
Left-handed pitcher Gabe Speier replaced Miller, and AJ Hinch pinch hits lefty specialist Jahmai Jones for Parker Meadows. First pitch, he clobbers a fastball 102 mph down the right field line to score Dingler. 3-2 Tigers. Tigers fans rejoice at the signs of life. Still only one out.
Up to bat is Javier Baez, who has been white hot this postseason. He gets a fastball belt-high from Speier and with a level, direct swing pulls it to left field for a single to score Jones. Comerica Park erupts in cheers, screams, and celebration. The Tigers have tied it up.
Riley Greene leads off the bottom of the sixth inning and absolutely annihilates a slider off Speier - 454 ft, 112 mph off the bat - for a home run that almost clears the brick wall in right center field. The energy is magical and absolutely electric.
After a double, a single, and another double, it’s now 5-3 Tigers. Javier Baez is back up to bat. Seemingly the entire stadium begins chanting, “JAVY! JAVY! JAVY!” as he approaches the plate.
He gets a hanging slider from Eduard Bazardo. Bat speed combines with timing, and he hits a no-doubter to left field. He watches it fly and the crowd erupts in cheers. Fans are jumping up and down, orange rally towels are waving, tears are shed, and hugs and high fives are given throughout Comerica Park.
Next inning, Gleyber Torres gets a high fastball from Carlos Vargas and hits it to opposite field for a home run. 8-3 Tigers.
Will Vest shuts the door in the ninth inning by striking out Randy Arozarena swinging. The Tigers come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the game with a final score of 9-3, and force game five of the division series.
They will fly back to Seattle to take on the Mariners in a winner-take-all game on Friday with the best pitcher in the world on the mound: Reigning AL Cy Young winner and frontrunner this season, Tarik Skubal.
I have been to plenty of Tiger games over the past twenty years, and this one was one of the best. The anticipation, the excitement, the energy, the adrenaline, the pure joy.
From someone who has had a deep love for the Tigers since I was a little girl, there is no better feeling in the world than watching the team I love so much be at their best when their best is needed.