Jeimer Candelario hits walk-off home run

DETROIT – On the first night of the Tigers' 50th anniversary celebration of their 1968 World Series win over the Cardinals, Jeimer Candelario Some new dramatics for the current Tigers against St. Louis' best.

As Candelario's opposite-field loft with a two-run walk-off home run, the Tigers third baseman had done more to win his team to his fourth win in five games with a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals on Friday night at Comerica Park. He had a ball out against a rookie phenom Jordan Hicks, something only Jason Heyward had done this season.

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DETROIT – On the first night of the Tigers' 50th anniversary celebration of their 1968 World Series win over the Cardinals, Jeimer Candelario Some new dramatics for the current Tigers against St. Louis' best.

As Candelario's opposite-field loft with a two-run walk-off home run, the Tigers third baseman had done more to win his team to his fourth win in five games with a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals on Friday night at Comerica Park. He had a ball out against a rookie phenom Jordan Hicks, something only Jason Heyward had done this season.

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"I had a good swing right there," Candelario told FOX Sports Detroit. "Thank God it went out."

Video: STL @ DET: Candelario on 2-run walk-off homer in 9th

But not even Heyward could claim what Candelario did. The first-pitch fastball on which Candelario connected is registered at 102.1 mph on Statcast ™Major Leagues this season. Moreover, it's the third-hardest fastball hit for a homer since pitch-tracking began in 2008.

"They've got a bullpen that's strength and everything," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said, "and we've got some guys, it's just going to make a bad pitch, and I don 't know if that was a bad pitch we just have a couple of them. "

Video: STL @ DET: Gardenhire on walk-off win over Cardinals

If that was not enough, the Comerica Park Candelario crowd felt into a frenzy included his father and his wife. As teammate Niko Goodrum Dumped a bottle of water on him in a cool night in Detroit, even he had trouble believing what he'd done.

"Man, it's a blast," Candelario said on the FOX Sports Detroit postgame show. "This moment is unbelievable, this is for these guys, for the fans and my family here in town."

One guy who did not have trouble believing it was the pitcher who gave it up.

"I mean, he's a professional baseball player," Hicks said, "so I'm not surprised by that, no."

Video: STL @ DET: Candelario rips 102-mph heat for HR walk-off

For a Cardinals team in the thick of contention, currently holding the second national league wild card spot, and a Tigers team are coached by Cleveland's win on Thursday night. The battle of the bullpens cam down to a couple swings off Hicks in his second inning of work.

though Daniel Norris struck out seven batters over five innings in his second start from the disabled list, a pair of Marcell Ozuna solo homers and a Francisco Pena sacrifice fly the left-hander with a no-decision for his troubles. By contrast, Nicholas Castellanos'two-run single in the fifth off Cardinals starter Austin Gomber completed a game-tying, two-out rally built on a single bunt, a line-drive single and a walk.

Video: STL @ DET: Castellanos laces has 2-run single into left

Four Tigers Reloaded Keeper the game with scoreless innings, including Shane Greene (3-6) in the ninth. Hicks (3-4) entered in the eighth inning with a 3-3 game and retired the first four batters he faced before Victor Reyes'opposite-field line-drive vs the shift on the winning run on base. Candelario, who had two singles and two strikeouts earlier in the night, came up swinging against Hicks and connected.

"Gardeners said," But he's a strong kid. got the barrel out, and the guy throwing hard took care of the rest. "

Video: STL @ DET: Rodriguez makes diving grab to rob Martinez

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The four scoreless innings of Tigers relief included a big out for lefty Daniel Stumpf, who entered the race with a leadoff runner Matt Carpenter with the go-ahead run on third. Stumpf could've opted to face rookie right-handed hitter Yairo Munoz After falling behind on a 3-1 count, but executed back-to-back sliders at the knees before getting an inning-ending groundout we have 3-2 fastball. Stumpf has gotten one of the most successful runners in the world. 1/3 innings since his recollection of Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 19.

Video: STL @ DET: Stumpf groundout to stand a runner

"He kind of makes their offense go," catcher James McCann said, "and we did not want to get in touch with him. sliders he threw all night long, and then he doubled up and threw another one really good. "

Video: STL @ DET: Lugo Flat Mahtook with a Groundout in 2nd

SOUND SMART
With 18 home runs this season, Candelario Tigers player with 20 homers in his age-24 season or younger Tony Clark (27) and Melvin Nieves (24) in 1996.

HE SAID IT
"I did not see it happening." I wanted to get along, I felt like I was a little stuck getting through the recovery. a corner. " – Norris, on his first start at the Comerica Park since undergoing groin surgery at the end of April

Video: STL @ DET: Norris opens the game with a strikeout

UP NEXT
The Tigers' 50th anniversary celebration of their 1968 World Series championship team continued Saturday, when they don their '68 throwback road jerseys for their 6:10 p.m. and game against the Cardinals at Comerica Park. Matthew Boyd (9-12, 4.24 ERA), who holds a 2.56 ERA at Comerica, gets the start looking at his home stinginess opposite rookie right-hander Jack Flaherty (8-6, 2.83).