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Javier Báez blast in 8th gives Detroit Tigers 2-1 win, sweep of Seattle Mariners
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- Javier Báez blast in 8th gives Detroit Tigers 2-1 win, sweep of Seattle Mariners
A big swing from an unlikely hero changed the game.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez , one of the worst hitters in baseball this season, hit a go-ahead, two-run home run with one strike and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning off Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andrés Muñoz.
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"I was just trying to trust my plan and wait for my pitch," Báez said, "and I got it."
The Tigers beat the Mariners, 2-1, in Thursday's finale of three games at Comerica Park, sweeping the series for their fourth win in a row. The two teams have played six games within the past 10 days, with the Tigers winning five times.
Javier Baez of the Detroit Tigers hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners to take a 2-1 lead during the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
It was Muñoz's first homer allowed since May 18, his first run allowed since June 26, and his first hit allowed since July 4. The 2024 All-Star owns a 1.35 ERA as one of the best relievers in baseball this season.
"I like this team," manager A.J. Hinch said, with the Tigers earning three of their past four wins by one run. "We've got a lot to do to be better. We've got a lot of room to grow. We're going to get younger. We're also going to get better. We continue to fight because we know that we can play complete games.
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"We're not always going to be perfect, and it's not always graceful, but these guys care. We're not just playing out the season because the schedule says it, and I appreciate that as a manager. I love this group as they compete and continue to try to be the best team we can be."
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Before Báez's home run, the Tigers (59-63) were shut down by Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller , who lowered his ERA to 3.29 in 24 starts. Miller completed seven scoreless innings on two hits and zero walks with nine strikeouts, throwing 90 pitches.
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The Tigers couldn't get anything started against Miller, but they finally threatened to score in the eighth inning against right-handed reliever Yimi García. Parker Meadows worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third base with two outs.
The Mariners called on Muñoz for a two-out matchup with Báez.
"I was shaking at first," Báez said. "He's having a great year, and he's a guy that throws 100-plus (mph). As soon as I saw the first pitch, I just tried to slow everything down and then see it close to me."
Muñoz threw four sliders in a row, and when Báez refused to swing at the third slider, located way outside of the strike zone, Muñoz overcorrected on the fourth slider, hanging it inside the zone.
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That's when Báez crushed a two-run home run to left-center field. He hit the ball 409 feet with a 103.1 mph exit velocity.
"We got to stay together," Báez said. "If we stay healthy and keep playing as a team, we can be really good."
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Four early walks
Right-hander Alex Faedo is a traditional reliever, but he started Thursday's game against the Mariners as an opener.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Faedo (49) throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Faedo struggled to command his pitches and walked four batters in the first inning, including one with the bases loaded for the game's only run over its first 7½ innings.
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Faedo, who needed 33 pitches to get three outs, walked Jorge Polanco , Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley in the first inning. With two outs, Justin Turner drew a full-count, bases-loaded walk on a down-and-away slider that he refused to chase.
Kenta Maeda shines again
Right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda, who used to be a traditional starter, performed well in his sixth relief appearance since the Tigers removed him from the rotation.
Maeda, 36, tossed 5⅔ scoreless innings on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts, throwing 84 pitches. This time, he generated 12 whiffs on 40 swings — a 30% whiff rate — with five sliders, two fastballs and five splitters.
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"I'm not sure if the success has to do with me pitching out of the bullpen," Maeda said in Japanese, interpreted by Daichi Sekizaki, "but most importantly, the velocity on my fastball and the secondary stuff has been coming along very well, so I think that's a huge step."
Kenta Maeda of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Comerica Park on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Detroit.
He owns a 3.28 ERA with two walks and 21 strikeouts across 24⅔ innings in six relief appearances, compared to a 6.88 ERA with 23 walks and 55 strikeouts across 69⅓ innings in 16 starts.
The Tigers switched Maeda from starter to reliever in early July.
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"It's nice that I'm pitching better," Maeda said, "but I just wish this came earlier. I do feel responsible for how I performed earlier in the season, so instead of feeling like the weight off my shoulders, I just feel like I gotta keep up with this style of pitching."
After Maeda, the Tigers received scoreless performances from right-handed reliever Shelby Miller and right-handed reliever Jason Foley to end the game.
The four pitchers, beginning with Faedo, combined to throw a one-hitter against the Mariners. The only hit occurred in the fifth inning, when Victor Robles hit a double off Maeda.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Báez homers in 8th as Detroit Tigers stun Seattle Mariners, 2-1
