During Monday’s 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park, a black squirrel evaded a 15-person Detroit Tigers grounds crew for two innings.
Monday night at Comerica Park offered a bizarre scene that briefly overshadowed the baseball game. As the Detroit Tigers dropped their third straight game in an 8-5 defeat against the Baltimore Orioles, the real star of the evening was a black squirrel that decided to explore the outfield, foul territory, and the warning track, stealing the show from both teams.
The Comerica Park Squirrel Chase and the Ground Crew Pursuit
The furry intruder first made its appearance near the warning track before meandering into foul territory. By the top of the seventh inning, the squirrel’s zany antics prompted a phalanx of at least 15 grounds crew members to storm the field.
The chase extended into deep right field, where the squirrel proved remarkably agile. Through a fluke of positioning, it scrambled directly toward Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras, who found himself unexpectedly involved in the wildlife capture.
“I just was trying to bring it up. I wasn’t trying to do that. It didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but I hope that it’s good, it’s OK.”
Leody Taveras, Orioles outfielder, via Defector
Taveras tried to get a glove on the rodent, accidentally flipping it into the air before a member of the grounds crew finally smothered the visibly tired animal in a white towel and escorted it through a door in the right-field fence.
Crowd Reaction and Mascot Support Highlight the Inning
The physical removal of the animal did little to quell the crowd’s enthusiasm. When home-plate umpire Bill Miller took the microphone to ask for a round of applause for the grounds crew for their hard work, the audience audibly booed in support of the squirrel. By the top of the eighth inning, the Tigers’ mascot, Paws, hoisted a sign reading Free the Squirrel.
Broadcaster Jason Benetti embraced the outfield antics on air, telling viewers The squirrel is free once again
and adding, Hemmed in. No. I won’t be hemmed in. I have freedom on my mind!
I wanted, personally, for him to stay on the field,
Orioles 3B Coby Mayo said. It makes the game more interesting.
Coby Mayo, Orioles 3B, via Defector
When the Banner sought a statement regarding the animal’s health, a Detroit Tigers spokesperson offered reassurance: Our understanding is that the squirrel was in fine health after being removed from the field and released.
Metaphorical Parallels to Detroit’s Playoff Slide
While the ballpark was amused, the game itself reflected a more stressful reality for the home team. The 8-5 loss dropped Detroit into its third consecutive defeat, mirroring the elusive nature of the team’s playoff aspirations.
Every time the Tigers appeared to build momentum toward a postseason charge, it slipped away. The team’s FanGraphs postseason odds stood at 42.4 percent just days prior before tumbling to 25.8 percent following the loss. Starter Keider Montero struggled through an outing that tied a career-high with nine hits, and manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the heavy emotional weight surrounding each defeat.
“These are obviously tough. I just can’t live in a world where there’s this dramatic fall-off after you lose a game. We’ve got to play again tomorrow, and I’m trying to do my best to maintain that momentum moving forward.”
A.J. Hinch, Tigers manager, via MLB.com