LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost to the Atlanta Braves, 5-3, on Wednesday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The Tigers are 12-15 in Grapefruit League play.
What happened
Miguel Cabrera, who turns 40 in April, was on second base when Ryan Kreidler hit a line drive off the glove of second baseman Ehire Adrianza for a single in the third inning. As the ball bounced into shallow right field, Cabrera turned up his speed and rounded third base.
He scored sliding into home plate for a 3-0 lead.
The catcher received the ball but didn’t try to apply the tag.
“Every time Miggy runs the bases, it’s an adventure,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “That has continued. His smile is the best after he does something like that. Now that he’s past 3,000 hits and 500 homers, he might enjoy that as much as any part of the game.”
Right-handed reliever Jose Cisnero allowed three runs on three hits and one walk with one strikeout. He recorded two outs in the sixth inning. Righty Jason Foley was responsible for a run in the sixth, too, because he gave up a single before Cisnero conceded a home run to Orlando Arcia.
The homer put the Braves ahead 4-3. An ensuing two-out double from Sam Hilliard increased the Braves’ margin to 5-3.
“I think it’s (Cisnero’s) pace, his delivery,” Hinch said. “He’s not getting into leverage, which is a terrible place to be as a pitcher. It looked like everything was a little bit off. He got distracted by the runner at second (base) and then gave up the big homer.”
Foley threw 11 of 15 pitches for strikes across 1⅓ innings, while Cisnero tossed 11 of 20 pitches for strikes across ⅔ innings. Foley generated three swings and misses and two called strikes; Cisnero earned two whiffs and four called strikes.
Cisnero pitched back-to-back games for the first time.
“Getting into count leverage, like we’ve said over and over and over again this spring, is critical for Cisnero,” Hinch said. “I’m not worried about him, but it’s a good reminder that you can’t get away with poor execution behind in counts.”
Starting off
Right-hander Matt Manning allowed one run (zero earned runs) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in his final spring training start.
He threw 54 of 80 pitches for strikes.
He allowed the first two batters to reach safely but escaped the jam in the first inning. In the fourth inning, shortstop Javier Báez made a throwing error to put a runner on base. The runner, Joshua Fuentes, came around to score on single by Arcia for the Braves’ first run.
“I executed some pitches when I needed to and limited damage,” Manning said. “It was a lot of singles. We were talking about what to do when they get in those counts where I can use the slider in the zone, fastball away and have more weapons when I get to two strikes.”
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The 25-year-old logged a 6.43 ERA with six walks and 15 strikeouts across 14 innings in his five starts this spring. Against the Braves, he racked up five of his six strikeouts with his fastball.
A nasty in-the-dirt curveball struck out Magneuris Sierra in the fourth inning.
“He threw the ball very well and is trending in the right direction,” Hinch said.
Manning tossed 37 four-seam fastballs, 18 sliders, 11 changeups, eight curveballs and six sinkers. His fastball sat between 91-95 mph and averaged 92.9 mph. He generated eight swings and misses with his heater.
“My fastball (and) slider felt really good,” Manning said.
At the plate
Before Cabrera showed off his wheels, the Tigers scored two runs in the first and second innings.
Riley Greene delivered an opposite-field RBI single in the first for a 1-0 lead against Braves right-hander Michael Soroka. Andy Ibáñez added an RBI single in the second inning.
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Greene finished 1-for-1 with one walk. The 22-year-old is hitting .333 with three home runs, two walks and 11 strikeouts over 16 games (42 plate appearances) in spring training.
Spencer Torkelson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
On the mound
Right-handers Trey Wingenter and Alex Lange pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings.
Wingenter, who allowed a leadoff single but stranded the runner at third base, has not given up a run in seven innings. He struck out two batters in his latest outing and has 11 strikeouts, compared to one walk, in spring training.
His fastball maxed out at 97.9 mph.
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Right-hander Tyler Mattison, elevated from minor-league camp, fired a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts.
Three stars
1. Cabrera; 2. Manning; 3. Wingenter.
Next up
Thursday (1:05 p.m.) vs. Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater; Thursday (6:05 p.m.) vs. Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
Next up: Phillies and Orioles
Matchup: Tigers (12-15) at Philadelphia (13-12) and Baltimore (13-12), Grapefruit League split-squad exhibitions.
First pitches: 1:05 p.m. Thursday, BayCare Ballpark (Phillies) in Clearwater, Florida, & 6:05 p.m., Ed Smith Stadium (Orioles) in Sarasota, Florida.
TV/radio: None.
Probable pitchers: Tigers vs. Phillies — LHP Joey Wentz (0-1, 8.44 ERA this spring) vs. LHP Bailey Falter (0-3, 3.97 ERA); Tigers vs. Orioles — LHP Tyler Holton (1-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. RHP Grayson Rodriguez (0-1, 5.56 ERA).