Play was temporarily suspended during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night when a black squirrel entered the field of play at Comerica Park. The rodent's appearance occurred midway through the seventh inning, disrupting the ongoing Major League Baseball contest.
A contingent of over a dozen Detroit Tigers grounds crew members pursued the squirrel across the outfield in an attempt to safely remove it from the playing surface. The chase, which lasted for several minutes, was met with amusement from the stadium crowd.
During the pursuit, Orioles third base coach Buck Britton was observed offering a sunflower seed to the squirrel near the visitor's dugout. In another moment, Orioles right fielder Leody Taveras attempted to scoop the animal with his glove, inadvertently sending it airborne before it continued its evasion.
Tigers play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti provided commentary on the chase, while fans in attendance appeared to enjoy the unexpected interruption. The game resumed after stadium personnel successfully trapped the squirrel under a towel and escorted it off the field. Home plate umpire Bill Miller acknowledged the grounds crew's efforts over the public address system.
The Baltimore Orioles ultimately defeated the Detroit Tigers 8-5. The incident is reminiscent of past animal disruptions in baseball, notably the "Rally Squirrel" that became an unofficial mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals during their 2011 World Series championship season after appearing during a playoff game.