Rajai Davis hit a walk-off grand slam completing a ninth inning comeback Monday night as the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland A’s 5-4 at Comerica Park.
The last Tigers walk-off grand slam was by Carlos Pena on June 21, 2004, the same day the Tigers celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1984 championship team according to tigers.com.
The timing was appropriate again Monday. The last time a Tiger hit a walk-off granny when the team was down three runs, or “super slam” was on June 21, 1988 by Alan Trammell. Trammell was in attendance as Detroit celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1984 team. He was also the Tigers manager when Pena hit his grand slam.
Asked after the game when his last walk-off hit was, Davis replied “I couldn’t even remember that. It was in my dreams when I was sleeping.”
It was the second time in less than a month that Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez and Scott Kazmir hooked up in a pitcher’s dual that was decided by a walk-off homer after both had left the game.
The game was tied 1-1 until the 8th inning when the A’s scored three times to make it 4-1.
Oakland closer Sean Doolittle entered the game with 2.09 ERA with a WHIP of 0.590 according to the Detroit Free Press . Nick Castellanos led of the ninth with a single and Alex Avila followed with a single. Eugenio Suarez struck out on three pitches. Austin Jackson then drew a walk after fouling off four pitches to load the bases. It was only the second walk allowed by Doolittle in 39 1/3 innings this year.
Davis followed by hitting a 1-0 curveball down the left field line for his sixth home run of the season, sending the Tigers dugout and Comerica into a frenzy.
“I was just ready for the fastball if he threw that,” Davis said. “He didn’t, so I was early on the breaking ball. I wasn’t sure when I hit it. I was just hoping the wind would blow it of there.”
Detroit first year manager Brad Ausmus did not know if it was gone either, but coach Gene Lamont knew as soon as Davis hit it.
“Gene Lamont seemed to know,” Ausmus said. “His eyes are going. But Geno did say right away, ‘He just won the game for us.’”
“This is definitely the top moment so far,” Davis said asked to rank his top moments as a player. “I’m looking for some greater moments like this, but this one, it ranks high.”
It was the first career grand slam given up by Doolittle, who had given up nine home runs but not more than a two-run shot.
“I just hung the crap out of it,” he said.
As reported in The inquisitr , Davis used his speed and smart s to beat the A’s in a game in May.
[Image via Detroit Free Press ]
