One swing from an unlikely hero changed the game.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, one of the worst hitters in baseball this season, hit a go-ahead, two-run home run with one strike and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning off Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andrés Muñoz.

The Tigers beat the Mariners, 2-1, in Thursday’s finale of three games at Comerica Park, sweeping the series.

ON THE FARM: Tigers prospect acquired in Jack Flaherty trade already showing how he ‘nukes balls’

Before Báez’s home run, the Tigers (59-63) were shut down by Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller, who lowered his ERA to 3.29 in 24 starts. Miller completed seven scoreless innings on two hits and zero walks with nine strikeouts, throwing 90 pitches.

The Tigers couldn’t get anything started against Miller, but they finally threatened to score in the eighth against right-handed reliever Yimi García. Parker Meadows worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third with two outs.

The Mariners called on Muñoz for a two-out matchup with Báez.

Báez hit a two-run home run to left-center field.

Four early walks

Right-hander Alex Faedo is a traditional reliever, but he started Thursday’s game against the Mariners as an opener.

Faedo struggled to command his pitches and walked four batters in the first inning, including one with the bases loaded for the game’s only run over its first 7½ innings.

Faedo, who needed 33 pitches to get three outs, walked Jorge Polanco, Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley in the first inning. With two outs, Justin Turner drew a full-count, bases-loaded walk on a down-and-away slider that he refused to chase.

Kenta Maeda shines again

Right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda, who used to be a traditional starter, performed well in his sixth relief appearance since the Tigers removed him from the rotation.

Maeda, 36, tossed 5⅔ scoreless innings on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts, throwing 84 pitches. He generated 12 whiffs on 40 swings — a 30% whiff rate — with five sliders, two fastballs and five splitters.

He owns a 3.33 ERA with two walks and 21 strikeouts across 24⅓ innings in six relief appearances.

After Maeda, the Tigers received scoreless performances from right-handed reliever Shelby Miller and right-handed reliever Jason Foley to end the game.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

SEATTLE – The last federal defendant arrested during Operation New Day, which targeted the open-air drug market at 12th and Jackson and 3rd and Pine in 2023, has been sentenced to five years in prison. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that 56-year-old Cuong Quoc Cao was found guilty of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Agents photographed Cao making hand-to-hand drug sales of fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and heroin while armed with a pistol. His arrest is part of a larger effort that has so far resulted in the federal convictions of six defendants.

“Operation New Day was a proactive measure to dismantle drug trafficking networks that have plagued our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge David Reames. “By targeting individuals who are at the forefront of these illegal activities, we hope to create a safer environment for residents.”

This crackdown is a precursor to the recently announced Operation Red Rose, which was detailed during a press conference in June. The DEA, in collaboration with Seattle Police, traced a street-level purchase of methamphetamine back to the Sinaloa cartel and further to drug suppliers in Colombia.

DEA and SPD executed search warrants in Western Washington simultaneously with the operation in Colombia. A video released by the General of the Colombian National Police showcased the operation’s success in taking down producers, distributors, retailers, and money launderers.

“Here in Western Washington especially, we’re focused on the Sinoloa cartel’s connection to the fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers,” said Reames. “Not a week goes by when we don’t seize multiple pounds of highly pure methamphetamine.”

In terms of impact, the King County overdose deaths data dashboard indicates a slight decline in fatalities this year, with 650 people having died from drug overdoses compared to 801 during the same timeframe last year. 

Some would credit the increased availability of Narcan to treat overdoses as one reason for fewer deaths.

Reames also said that by ripping out the drug pipeline by the root, it creates an ebb in the flow of drugs to Western Washington.

“Hopefully, it makes it harder for a period of time so they can reevaluate their circumstances and maybe get help, maybe stop needing drugs in the future,” he said.

One recent concern is the increase in overdose deaths related to cocaine mixed with fentanyl. “If you put fentanyl, which is highly addictive, into cocaine, you are going to get a user addicted to that source,” he explained. “It could be as simple as that.”

The DEA in Seattle is also observing a rise in the trafficking of fentanyl powder, which poses greater risks as it can be easily mixed with other drugs, making them more lethal. 

“I’ve been doing this 26 years and this is the most frightening thing I’ve seen,”  he said. “With powder fentanyl we are seeing purities rising into the 80 and 90 percent in which 2 milligrams is a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.”

Reames recently presented “What Every City Leader Needs to Know About Fentanyl”, a version of the One Pill Can Kill Presentation, to mayors and city leaders from throughout Washington state at the Association of Washington Cities Conference in Vancouver, Washington. 

He says the DEA in Seattle has launched a new outreach program called Operation Engage, which aims to educate communities about the dangers of drug use.

DEA Agents and outreach specialists will be visiting schools, tribal communities, and local events. A notable event will feature the DEA’s Hummer, seized from a drug dealer and wrapped with a “One Pill Can Kill” message, at Liberty Park in Renton on August 18.

As the community continues to battle the effects of the opioid crisis, officials emphasize the importance of education and prevention in reducing drug-related harm.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX SEATTLE

Man charged in I-5 police standoff, accused of throwing fish tank

Street racing driver triggers fiery, deadly Pierce County crash

Man accused of killing girlfriend in North Seattle charged with murder

North Cascades Highway closure extended, conditions worse than expected

2025 Social Security COLA increase: What we know

Seattle police lieutenant hit with retaliation after enforcing accountability

Court Docs: Suspect told Seattle police he had ‘memory’ of killing girlfriend

San Juan County Sheriff outraged over ferry captain comment

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX 13 Seattle newsletter.

SEATTLE – A controversial exhibit intended to highlight the struggles of Black, Asian and Jewish communities in Seattle is expected to open to the public next month.

A press release from the Washington State Jewish Historical Society says it will no longer present the Confronting Hate Together (CHT) exhibit with original co-creators the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and the Wing Luke Museum, but will instead partner with the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle to host a special event next month to show the exhibit to “the Jewish community alongside our friends and allies.”

The original CHT exhibit opened at the Wing Luke Museum back in May but was met with backlash, leading to 26 staff members going on strike.

Social media accounts and an online fundraiser on behalf of protesting staff accused the exhibit of conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism.

The Wing Luke Museum was temporarily closed for a week but has since reopened.

Stephan Mclean, Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Wing Luke Museum, confirmed the museum is no longer part of the next phase for CHT.

“It is an unfortunate circumstance that we were unable to continue with this project,” said Mclean. “This is something the Jewish Historical Society wanted to move forward with in a timeline, despite our best efforts, just were not able to make.”

A message on the Wing Luke Museum says:

“The Wing Luke Museum wishes the Washington State Jewish Historical Society well in moving forward with the Confronting Hate Together exhibit.

We regret that the partnership was not able to move forward, though we invested ourselves diligently in the process.

We extend our immense gratitude to the Washington State Jewish Historical Society and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State for their partnership.”

Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State sent this message to FOX 13 Seattle:

“BHS is a trusted and respected cultural stakeholder that came as a willing partner to CHT to encourage understanding for one another as all communities are touched by harms that cannot be measured one against the other.”

In a post dated August 12, 2024, Johnson-Toliver posted a more detailed response to the next phase of CHT:

As of Wednesday night, Lisa Kranseler, Executive Director for the WA state Jewish Historical Society, was not available to speak with FOX 13 Seattle.

An online version of CHT can be accessed here on the WA state Jewish Historical Society website.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX SEATTLE:

Man charged in I-5 police standoff, accused of throwing fish tank

Street racing driver triggers fiery, deadly Pierce County crash

Man accused of killing girlfriend in North Seattle charged with murder

Kent man charged in violent attack near Seattle Great Wheel

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX 13 Seattle newsletter.