Dixon Machado is not the best player with that last name in baseball. He wasn't even the best player on the field with that last name on Wednesday afternoon. But he came through when the detroit tigers needed him most.

The infielder came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in a tied game against the Baltimore Orioles. As the No. 9 hitter in the Tigers' lineup, his job was simply to prolong the game. He failed to do so, but in the best way for the home crowd, as Machado smacked a walk-off home run over the fence.

Macho Machado

Prior to this moment, Machado had never hit a walk-off home run in his major league career.

He admitted after the game that he visualized the very moment that unfolded before him and everyone else at Comerica Park. With no outs in the frame, he stepped into the batter's box. He was going up against Orioles reliever Pedro Araujo for the first time in his career. It didn't matter to the Tigers' infielder.

The at-bat started with a fastball on the outside of the plate, a ball. Machado liked the next pitch he saw. It didn't clear the left field wall by much, but it was enough. Just like that, the game was over, with the Tigers prevailing 6-5.

Machado isn't a player known for his power (just like most middle infielders).This was just his first home run of the season. In fact, it was only the 26-year-old's second career home run. Nobody had less faith in the second baseman than teammate and slugger Miguel Cabrera -- Sports Illustrated reported that he missed the Tigers' victory moment to go get coffee in the clubhouse.

Other Tigers keys

Machado isn't the only underrated player who stepped up Wednesday. Catcher John Dowd also stepped into the void. He hit a three-run homer to put the team up 5-4 in the eighth inning, a lead that wouldn't last through the succeeding top frame. Cabrera also hit a home run, a solo shot that marked the occasion of his 35th birthday.

Meanwhile, Matthew Boyd had a solid start. He threw 6.1 innings, striking out six and giving up just one earned run. Boyd has given up exactly one earned run in each of his three starts this season, a pleasant beginning to the year for the erstwhile rotation member. If he can keep pitching like this, the Tigers will have a chance to get back in the playoff race.

The Tigers are right back at it on Thursday for an afternoon matinee against Baltimore. Jordan Zimmermann will toe the mound for the home team, while Alex Cobb will pitch for the Orioles.
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