Remembering Alex Avila’s greatest Detroit Tigers moments

DETROIT, MI - Catcher Alex Avila during game two of a doubleheader. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - Catcher Alex Avila during game two of a doubleheader. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 3: Alex Avila #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning with teammate Andrew Romine #17 during the game against the Chicago White Sox on June 3, 2017, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 3: Alex Avila #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning with teammate Andrew Romine #17 during the game against the Chicago White Sox on June 3, 2017, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

2. Alex Avila hits a grand slam off Stephen Strasburg to break the tie

Avila has always had a good deal of thump in his bat and he had it on full display on July 30, 2013, against the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park.

Stephen Strasburg was at the height of his stardom at the time; a season in which he’d pitch to a 3.00 ERA across 30 starts; striking out over a batter per inning and supplying a 2.9 bWAR with electric stuff.

Avila would propel the team to a 5-1 win thanks to his grand slam to one of the deeper parts of the park which broke the tie in the sixth inning. Anibal Sanchez was the starter for the Detroit Tigers; he went seven innings before handing it off to Jose Veras and then Joaquin Benoit to finish it out.