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Javier Báez blasts walk-off home run in Detroit Tigers' 10-9 win vs Red Sox in 11 innings
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- Javier Báez blasts walk-off home run in Detroit Tigers' 10-9 win vs Red Sox in 11 innings
The Detroit Tigers kept bending.
But Javier Báez didn't let them break.
The Tigers squandered four leads — 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 6-4 — across the first eight innings May 13 against the Boston Red Sox , then Báez secured an 10-9 win with a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
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It was his second homer of the game.
The Tigers (28-15) own the best record in the American League.
Both teams traded runs in the 10th inning, with Trey Sweeney keeping the Tigers alive in the bottom of the 10th by hitting an RBI single with two outs — tying the game at seven runs apiece.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Javier Báez (28) hits a three run RBI home run off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock in the sixth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
The game ended in the 11th inning.
Reliever Beau Brieske retired the best hitters in the Red Sox lineup — Rafael Devers struck out and Alex Bregman flew out — but he couldn't put away the youngest hitter in the Red Sox lineup.
Kristian Campbell , a 22-year-old from the 2023 draft, slapped Brieske's first-pitch sinker for a two-run home run to the opposite field, putting the Red Sox ahead, 9-7, in the top of the 11th.
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In the bottom of the 11th, Báez stepped to the plate with runners on the corners against reliever Greg Weissert . He hit a first-pitch sweeper at the bottom of the strike zone for a three-run home run to left field.
It was his first multi-homer game with the Tigers.
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The Tigers had a 6-4 lead entering the eighth inning, but reliever Tommy Kahnle — who inherited a runner from fellow reliever Brenan Hanifee — surrendered a two-run home run to David Hamilton with two outs.
Just like that, it was a 6-6 tie.
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Javier Báez stays hot
In the sixth inning, Báez provided a 6-4 lead with a three-run home run.
To set the table, Spencer Torkelson drew a walk and Jace Jung was hit by a pitch. Despite Jung's struggles, he grinded through eight pitches and refused to go down swinging, ultimately getting the free pass that extended the inning. After that, Báez turned on a slider at the bottom of the strike zone from right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock.
The 32-year-old is hitting .314 with five home runs and an .870 OPS in 34 games.
Not only did Báez impact the win with his bat, he also created a run by creating havoc on the bases.
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Báez — nicknamed "El Mago" for his instincts — appeared to be out on a back-pick, with Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez trying to nab him at third base for the second out in the third inning, but as he retreated back to the bag, he ran through the throwing lane.
The ball deflected off him and skipped into the outfield.
Báez trotted home for a 2-1 lead.
Spencer Torkelson matches Alex Bregman
Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez celebrates his three run RBI home run off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock in the sixth inning with Jace Jung and Spencer Torkelson at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Tigers fans continued to boo Bregman.
Bregman, who signed with the Red Sox over the Tigers in free agency, blasted a hanging slider from right-hander Keider Montero for a solo home run to left field. His 10th homer of the season tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the fourth inning.
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Additionally, Bregman is hitting .306 with a .954 OPS in 43 games.
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Torkelson answered with an opposite-field solo home run off a two-strike sinker from right-hander Brayan Bello — a pitch left over the middle of the zone. The homer would've cleared the fence in just eight of MLB's 30 ballparks, including Comerica Park.
His blast put the Tigers back on top, 3-2.
Torkelson, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, is hitting .242 with 11 home runs in 43 games this season, following just 10 homers in 92 games last season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Baez blasts walk-off homer to help Tigers beat Red Sox, 10-9
