The Orioles had three home runs Monday night. The best moment at Comerica Park may have involved none of them.
In the middle of Baltimore's 8-5 win over Detroit, a black squirrel got onto the field and proceeded to spend nearly a full inning doing whatever it wanted as play continued. Dozens of Detroit groundskeepers eventually gave chase at the direction of the home plate umpire. Leody Taveras, stationed in right field, joined the effort — using his glove to help corral the animal and finally usher it off the grass.
Orioles manager Gary Albernaz summed it up simply: "The whole squirrel thing was nuts."
The Orioles' official account captured the moment on X:
Just taking in some baseball 🐿️ pic.twitter.com/uf9JawTrIS
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 28, 2026
"At one point I thought he was going to go in the batter’s box. He had a great view of the game," Albernaz said. "I no idea Leody tried to glove flip it or catch it, whatever, in right field. I didn’t see that video until after the game. Nice job, Leody.”
Between the squirrel, three home runs from Baltimore, and a Jackson Holliday four-hit night, it was an entertaining evening.
"I thought it was crazy," said the Orioles' Coby Mayo, who hit a two-run homer during the game and was caught on camera looking at the animal as he played first base. "It was funny. Personally, I wanted him to stay on the field. It makes the game more interesting."
It was a good night for the Birds, too, who made up some ground in the American League wild-card race.