The Tigers squared off in a series opener against old rivals the Cleveland Guardians today, with Jack Flaherty up against Triston McKenzie.
Riley Greene wasted no time, hitting a solo home run in the first at-bat of the game. The next three batters went down in order, but the Tigers were first on the board. Estevan Florial started out the home half with a double, then Josh Naylor got a two-out double. A Will Brennan single then scored Florial to tie the game up, but Naylor got tagged at third to end the inning.
In the top of the second Colt Keith singled, followed by a Parker Meadows walk. Two outs followed to leave the runners stranded, and that was going to be the theme for much of the game to come. Tyler Freeman got a two-out single in the bottom half, then stole second, but the Guardians couldn’t convert the run.
Onto the third and Mark Canha got a one-out walk. He would be the only Tigers’ baserunner for the inning. The Guardians went 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the fourth the Tigers went three-up three- down. For the Guardians, Josh Naylor singled to start the bottom of the inning, he was then eliminated in a force out off the bat of Will Brennan, then Brennan was caught stealing. One out later the inning was over.
Javier Baez kicked off the fifth with a single, then Carson Kelly walked. Three outs followed, once again leaving men on base. In the bottom half Tyler Freeman got a one-out double, Then Brayan Rocchio hit into a fielder’s choice, reaching first and eliminating Freeman at third. A flyout ended the inning.
McKenzie was done after five, giving way to Sam Hentges. Kerry Carpenter reached on catcher interference. A pinch-hitting Wenceel Perez got a two-out walk, and Hentges was pulled in favor of Nick Sandlin, who got the final out of the inning. Bottom of the inning Jose Ramirez hit a solo home run with one out, putting the Guardians ahead 2-1.
Top of the seventh Carson Kelly singled, but then Riley Greene hit into a double play. A Mark Canha groundout ended the Tigers’ half. Jack Flaherty’s day was done, his final line was 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR on 101 pitches. The runs aside, it was a good looking night for Flaherty. Joey Wentz was in out of the pen and got the Guardians 1-2-3.
Hunter Gattis was the next Guardians pitcher out of the pen. Kerry Carpenter got a one-out double that just barely missed being a home run. Spencer Torkelson singled. Two outs later, the Tigers were regretting that it wasn’t a home run after all. Andres Gimenez got a double in the bottom half of the inning, but the Guardians couldn’t convert the runner.
Emmanuel Clase was out of the pen next. Three outs later, the Tigers were done.
Final: Guardians 2, Tigers 1