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USATI

The craziest win of Opening Day was very likely just secured in Detroit's Comerica Park, with the Tigers eventually prevailing, 5-4, in walk-off (Wall-off?! We'll get to that...) fashion. The heroes for the Tigers included, but were not limited to Miguel Cabrera, Javier Báez and Eric Haase. 

Things were very much in the control of the White Sox through 7 1/2 innings. Early-inning White Sox rallies spotted them a 3-0 lead and they were holding a 3-1 lead going to the bottom of the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out after a Robbie Grossman single, Austin Meadows walk and Báez single. Jaimer Candelario struck out and then the White Sox summoned All-Star closer Liam Hendriks to face future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera. 

Cabrera would come through with a two-RBI, game-tying single. 

The White Sox answered with a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth, off the bat of designated hitter Andrew Vaughn. The Tigers were not to be denied in this one, however, as Eric Haase would tie things up with a home run. Meadows would then triple, setting the table for the two-out showdown between Báez and Hendriks. Here's the play: 

Báez sent a shot to deep right field that looked like it might leave the yard for a walk-off home run. It appeared White Sox right fielder A.J. Pollock misplayed the fly ball initially but recovered to make the catch. That was the initial call on the field that would've sent the game to extra innings. 

As can be seen on this replay, however, the ball clearly hit the wall before it got to Pollock's glove, making it in play and giving Báez the walk-off, RBI single. 

And there it is, the birth of the "Wall-off." 

Báez went 2 for 5 with that RBI and a very nice play at shortstop early in the game in his Tigers debut. And he left the fans with a glimpse of his personality afterward, too. 

The Tigers were 77-85 last season, but they started 9-24 and went 68-61 after that. They also have a core of young talent they supplemented with some veteran talent like Báez and Meadows in the offseason. They'll be feeling like an upstart contender with a few more games like Friday's.