AJ Hinch’s comments on Tigers' walk-off win officially kill any early season doubts

The Tigers had a weird, weird Thursday. They started a little over an hour late due to a rain delay, then lost a whopping 11 minutes to an umpire delay in the top of the seventh when an umpire who had been battling an illness abruptly left the game, and then another rain delay in the very same inning had things on pause for another 40 minutes or so.

In between all of that, they put up a 6-1 lead through the fifth, then saw it not just erased but overcome by the end of a long top seventh.

But the Gritty Tigs of 2024 made their official reintroduction to the 2026 season. Down 8-6 in the seventh, Kerry Carpenter made up some ground with a sac fly. The Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino rendered it almost meaningless with a solo homer in the ninth, but the Tigers fought back down to their last three outs.

With Lucas Erceg on the mound, Gleyber Torres lined a single and Kevin McGonigle won himself a walk on an ABS challenge. Carpenter struck out and Dillon Dingler lined out, but Riley Greene worked the count full before sending a grounder just fair down the right field line. McGonigle turned on the jets to score from first.

But Colt Keith was the big hero of the day. He shot a single through the right field gap, and it was enough to bring Greene home.

AJ Hinch's comments after the game can be summed up simply: this is just what the Tigers do.

Tigers' epic walk-off win to complete sweep of Royals caps off incredible homestand

"Part of our DNA is our willingness to do anything," Hinch said. "We're gonna play 'til the end. These are funky wins with one run or coming up late ... our guys play their 27 outs. The way we fought these two series with this homestand, coming off of a really tough road trip, I think is a telling reminder that this team will play the whole game."

It was the first walk-off hit of Keith's career, and the Tigers' first perfect homestand of six or more games since 2021.

There's still reason to be worried about parts of this roster. It was Drew Anderson who blew the Tigers' lead — and then some — and he's given up at least one earned run in five out of six appearances. Connor Seabold gave up the insurance homer to Pasquantino. Carpenter still isn't really hitting; neither is Wenceel Pérez.

But the win reminded fans that we have a very good team. There's still a lot of season left to play, but the Tigers will all of their outs.

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