What a game! Javier Báez just went out there, playing left field for the *first time in his career*, and pulled off a wild catch to rob Teoscar Hernandez of a potential tie-breaking extra base hit in the top of the ninth inning. As if that wasn’t enough, his chain broke off his neck *right after* the play, adding an almost unbelievable twist to a clutch moment. This insane sequence of events powered the Tigers to a gritty 2-1 victory over the two-time defending champion Dodgers on Saturday, August 28, evening up the series in front of a sellout crowd of 40,022 at Comerica Park.
El Mago’s Ninth Inning Magic (and Lost Bling)
Seriously, you had to see this catch. With the game tied 1-1 and Tommy Edman on first, Hernandez absolutely smashed a ball 396 feet towards the fence in left-center field off Kenley Jansen. Báez, normally a shortstop, sometimes a center fielder, but now trying out left, got an incredible jump. He tracked that ball at full speed right to the wall. Rookie Max Clark was converging too, but Báez had it locked, and Clark gave way. Clark himself couldn’t believe it, saying, “Just a sick play. That’s prime Javy right there.” He added that Báez was shifted, making the read even tougher: “It was hit right over his head. That’s a tough read. When hitters flush a ball like that it’s usually a homer.” Báez even shared that he and Clark have a special “sss-sss-sss” sound for communication in the outfield, and Clark didn’t make the sound for this one, so Javy just went for it. What a stud! After securing both the ball and his broken chain, Báez’s biggest worry was getting back into the dugout and up to the plate before the pitch clock ran out. “Oh man, that is my biggest fear,” he confessed, “To get a strike called without a pitch. I almost called time.”
From Defense to Offense: The Walk-Off Finish
Despite the frantic sprint from the outfield and the pitch clock anxiety, Báez wasn’t done making plays. He led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left-field line off lefty reliever Jack Dreyer. That put him in scoring position, setting the stage for rookie Kevin McGonigle. McGonigle had been in a brutal 0-for-16 skid, but he delivered big time, ripping a walk-off ground rule single to seal the 2-1 win. McGonigle was pumped, saying he was “super proud I was able to come through for the guys in this clubhouse,” giving props to his teammates for putting him “in a good spot to win a baseball game.” After losing 11 of their last 13 games, this victory must have felt like a massive breath of fresh air for the Tigers. Manager AJ Hinch summed up Báez perfectly: “Where are we going to put Javy next. The ball will find him and he’s going to find a way to make plays. He is such an instinctual player and he pays attention.”
This win felt different, like a jolt of energy. The Tigers needed that bad after a tough stretch. You gotta love when a guy steps into a new role and makes game-changing plays like that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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