DETROIT — For the second consecutive year, the Tigers will hand the ball to Tarik Skubal in a winner-take-all Game 5 of an American League Division Series. The path to get him there was unlike any that Tigers fans have seen in a long time.
What looked like a Mariners clincher at Comerica Park on Wednesday afternoon suddenly turned on a three-run rally — capped by a Javier Báez game-tying single — in the fifth before Riley Greene’s first career postseason home run ignited both the Tigers’ offense and the sellout crowd in a four-run sixth, sending Detroit on its way to a 9-3 win in Game 4 and a return to T-Mobile Park.
“We believe,” said Greene. “We’re never out of the game no matter what, and we always believe in ourselves.”
It was a stunning result that ran opposite to the first half of the game. As manager A.J. Hinch churned through pitchers – first pulling Casey Mize after three innings, then replacing Tyler Holton with Kyle Finnegan after three batters and three baserunners in the fourth – the loudest noise from the crowd was the cheers from the Mariners’ family section. The Tigers faithful, having endured eight consecutive home losses since Sept. 7, turned to boos for the offense.
“I love our position,” said Greene. “Skub’s our guy, and we’re ready.”
Once Cal Raleigh singled home Randy Arozarena for a 3-0 Mariners lead in the fifth, not even the between-innings singalong “Mr. Brightside” could get the Tigers’ fans going. Instead, Dillon Dingler’s double past Arozarena and to the left-field fence did the trick, scoring Zach McKinstry and chasing Seattle starter Bryce Miller to put Detroit on the board and put the fans on their feet.
With Parker Meadows up and Kerry Carpenter looming three batters away, Mariners manager Dan Wilson went to lefty reliever Gabe Speier. Hinch pounced, pinch-hitting for Meadows with Jahmai Jones, whose ensuing double scored Dingler and brought Detroit within a run.
Báez just missed a go-ahead home run down the left-field line, leaving third-base coach Joey Cora pounding his head as the ball veered foul. Instead, Báez settled for a ground ball through the middle and a tie game.
Speier stayed in to retire Carpenter and Colt Keith to keep the game tied, but when he stayed on for the sixth to face Greene, he hung a 1-0 slider that Greene crushed. The resulting 454-foot homer was the second-longest of his career. The ensuing roar from the crowd could be heard through downtown.
Báez got his home run five batters later, punctuating a four-run inning and giving the Tigers a chance to catch their breath.
Troy Melton, who started Game 1, followed Finnegan and delivered three scoreless innings with three strikeouts, bridging the gap to closer Will Vest.
