Monday evening, Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are back home after a nine-game road trip, and it’s the 30th anniversary commemorating the 1984 World Series Championship team.

It was a gorgeous night on the final day of June. The Tigers who led the team to the championship were all in attendance, with only those missing due to roles with current clubs. Alan Trammel gave an eloquent speech, praising Sparky Anderson as their ship’s captain. He humbly thanked the fans who supported them through it all and received a standing ovation from our sellout crowd.

Coincidentally enough, my dad, brother, and I got together on this night for a nice family meal.

The game stayed at one through our dinner. Feeling peaceful, we settled into the living room to watch Oakland explode for three runs in the top of the 8th inning. The leadoff man reached first on a comical throw over the head of Miguel Cabrera. Unfortunately, it led to a big inning in an otherwise pitcher’s duel. Nonetheless, Phil Coke put out the fire, entering with no outs and two on before ending the inning. Coke and the Tigers nearly turned a triple play.

Detroit reached the bottom of the ninth still trailing 4-1. Nick Castellanos led off and beat out a ground ball for a base hit. Next, Alex Avila smacked a single that moved Castellanos to third. Eugenio Suarez struck out swinging, giving us our first out. Austin Jackson worked a full count before taking one inside to load the bases. By this time, the crowd was roaring. There looked like an aura around the white Tiger uniforms when they showed the three base runners on a split-screen.

Rajai Davis stepped up to bat. The speedster took the first pitch, then launched the next one into the Detroit sky, soaring on and on and out of the ballpark!

The grand slam put Detroit ahead 5-4, immediately ending the game. We all hugged and celebrated as they walked-off into the night.

rajai davis

NOTES:

It was the first walk-off grand slam by a Tiger since Carlos Pena’s tiebreaking blast beat Arizona on June 27, 2004 — the day the Tigers celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1984 title-winning team.

The last Tigers walk-off grand slam before that was 10 years earlier, on June 21, 1994. Lou Whitaker, who was on hand for Monday’s celebration, hit it.

Alan Trammell, who hit the Tigers’ only other walk-off “super slam” — meaning the team was down three runs when it was hit — on June 21, 1988, was on base for Whitaker’s grand slam in 1994. He was the Tigers’ manager for Pena’s grand slam in 2004. He was a guest for Monday’s dramatics as well.

via  June 30, 2014 | MLB.com DET Recap.