Tigers 7, Nationals 5: A rollercoaster of emotion ends in a Tigers victory

Before the Detroit Tigers vs. Washington Nationals game on Saturday, the team celebrated the 35-year anniversary of the 1984 World Champion squad with ceremonies and a reunion of the former players.

After, they celebrated their first win since June 18, snapping an eight game losing streak.

The contest was a wild one filled with highs and lows.

In fact, it was so wild, the first low even turned out to be a high within seconds when Victor Robles launched a Gregory Soto sinker destined for the visitor bullpen... but JaCoby Jones had other plans for the ball.

The Nationals eventually struck the next inning as Anthony Rendon led off with a home run before two more runs crossed.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with only one out in what looked to be a promising frame. Ronny Rodriguez popped out before Niko Goodrum drew a four-pitch walk to cut the deficit, but John Hicks struck out looking, stranding three runners.

Washington’s two-run lead only lasted one more inning; Miguel Cabrera drove in Harold Castro and Nicholas Castellanos with a bloop single down the right field line evening things up at three apiece.

As any follower of the 2019 Tigers knows, though, good things do not often last long with this team. Rodriguez misplayed a grounder and Jeimer Candelario airmailed a throw to first leading to two runs scored in the top of the seventh, giving the Nationals their lead back.

But wait! Detroit made a second comeback!

Base-on-balls to Jones and Castellanos led off the bottom half of the inning, allowing Cabrera to drive in another run before Christin Stewart’s sacrifice fly tied it back up.

Instead of settling for a tie this time, they took a lead for the first time in six days on a Niko Goodrum RBI single.

From there, Joe Jimenez struck out two in a scoreless eighth, Jones doubled in an insurance run and Shane Greene shut it down for his 22nd save of the season.

The Good

The Tigers’ 16 baserunners — 12 hits and four walks — are the most they have had in a game since their June 8 win against the Minnesota Twins. Jones, Castellanos and Cabrera reached base a combined eight times.

The Bad

Ron Gardenhire was ejected in the fourth inning for the seventh time this season which is already a single-season record among Tigers managers.

The Ugly

Rodriguez and John Hicks combined to go oh-for-eight as the only Tigers without hits on Saturday. Together, they left 13 runners on base and Hicks struck out four times.