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Were Detroit Tigers robbed by tipped-strike call in 9th inning vs. Astros? You decide

Did the Detroit Tigers get robbed of a shutout against the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series by a bad call in the ninth inning?

Luckily for the Tigers, the questionable call ended up not costing them the game, as Beau Brieske navigated a heart-stopping ninth inning to help the Tigers win, 3-1. But for a minute, it looked like another argument-inducing moment for Detroit sports fans.

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After allowing a double to Houston Astros star Yordan Álvarez and an infield single to third baseman Alex Bregman, it looked like Tigers reliever Jason Foley had finally gotten the much-needed first out of the ninth inning when he got a swing-and-miss from Astros catcher Yainer Diaz.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jason Foley throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning in Game 1 of the wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 in Houston.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jason Foley throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning in Game 1 of the wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 in Houston.

The pitch was low and away and looked like a strikeout, but the umpires got together and decided the pitch was tipped by Diaz and then bounced in the dirt before landing in Jake Rogers' glove.

On the next pitch, Diaz dribbled a single into right field, scoring the Astros' first run of the game.

It's hard to tell for certain whether the ball hit the dirt or Rogers' glove, or even if the pitch was tipped by Diaz at all, but either way, Tigers fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the debatable call didn't cost them the crucial first game of the wild-card series.

You can watch the controversial play in the video below:

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Were Detroit Tigers robbed by tipped-strike call in ninth vs. Astros?