The Detroit Tigers pulled off the near impossible Thursday night. Facing a 7-2 deficit through eight, they scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning and won 10-7.
The odds were long
According to Fangraphs’ win probability, the Tigers had a 0.4 percent chance to win after Logan Forsythe hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to bring the score to 7-2.
The in-game results have been even less favorable to teams in Detroit’s position. Entering Thursday, teams trailing by at least five runs entering the ninth inning were 3-2,779 (.001 win percentage) over the past five seasons.
Elias notes that Thursday was the first time since 1947 that the Tigers trailed by five or more runs through eight innings and came back to win.
How they did it
The Tigers needed five runs to tie the game in the ninth inning, but they scored eight. It was the most runs by any team in the ninth inning this season.
It was also the first time the Tigers scored eight runs in the ninth inning since 2001, when they scored 13 against the Rangers.
Nine of the Tigers' first 10 batters in the ninth inning reached base safely. The lone exception was Steven Moya, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Another day, another big comeback
The Tigers weren’t the only team this week to make a big ninth-inning comeback. The Yankees overcame a four-run deficit against the Rangers Wednesday by scoring six runs in the ninth.
Prior to Wednesday, teams were 1-447 this season when trailing by at least four runs entering the ninth inning.
