Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians final score: Alex Avila homers late, Tigers win 5-4
By Hayden Kane
The Detroit Tigers are embroiled in a tight race in the American League playoff picture.
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Perhaps more accurately, they are in the middle of multiple races, depending on if they are at the top of the American League Central or in the wild card race. The season is running out of days, and so it was that the Tigers came back late for a big 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night. With the win, Detroit is still clinging to a 0.5 game lead over the Kansas City Royals for first place in the AL Central.
That kind of pressure puts the spotlight on each high-leverage inning; each key at-bat matters that much more. Alex Avila came up to bat with his team down one run to the Indians in the 8th inning. He came through in the clutch in that spot, staying back on an off-speed offering from Bryan Shaw and blasting it to the right field seats to plate the tying and winning run.
In case you have any doubt how much this home run meant, check out Miguel Cabrera‘s reaction in the dugout.
Joe Nathan was then able to hold on for the save, something far from a guarantee this season, to close out the win for the Tigers.
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