Happy Afternoon Baseball Day, friends, as the Tigers wrap their four-game series against the Guardians and try to head into their final series of the first half on a high note.
Jack Flaherty was on the mound for the Tigers, up against Pedro Avila for the Guardains.
Flaherty got off to a good start in the top of the first, knocking the Guardians out 1-2-3. In the home half, Wenceel Perez got a leadoff single, then stole second on a Matt Vierling strikeout. Riley Greene then singled to score Perez and put the Tigers on the board first.
The Guardians went three-up, three-down in the second. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Gio Urshela and Javier Baez got back-to-back singles. With two outs, Perez and Colt Keith got back-to-back walks, to load the bases and walk in a run with Urshela. Matt Vierling singled (though efforts were made by the Guardians to challenge), and scored Baez. Tigers were up 3-0 at the end of two.
Bo Naylor got a one-out homer in the top of the third to put the Guardians on the board. Steven Kwan got a two-out single, but the Guardians left him stranded. Carson Kelly, still having a very good season at the plate, got the run back with a solo homer to start the bottom of the inning. Baez walked and Justyn-Henry Malloy singled, but the Tigers had to settle for the one run.
Things got a bit rocky for Flaherty in the top of the fourth. Daniel Schneemann, then one out later Andres Gimenez walked. Flaherty did get out of the inning unscathed, though. Colt Keith walked to start the bottom of the inning, then Matt Vierling doubled. Riley Greene singled to score Keith and Vierling and boost the Tigers’ lead to 6-1.
Top of the fifth the Guardians went 1-2-3. Bottom of the fifth, the Tigers did the same.
Top of the sixth, Cleveland went down in order again. In the home half, Colt Keith reached on a fielding error, then Riley Greene singled, and Carson Kelly walked to load the bases. That was it for Avila, who was replaced by Nick Sandlin. Sandlin then walked Zach McKinstry, to walk in another run for the day. Gio Urshela followed that with a double to score three runs.
In the seventh, Andrew Chafin replaced Flaherty. Flaherty’s final line for the day was 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB 4 K, 1 HR on 83 pitches. Chafin gave up a double to a pinch-hitting Tyler Freeman, but no runs scored. Austin Hedges was the next pitcher out of the Guardians’ pen with one out in the bottom of the inning, but the Tigers didn’t manage to get a single baserunner.
Shelby Miller replaced Chafin, and the Guardians went 1-2-3 again in the top of the eighth. In the home half, Carson Kelly got a leadoff walk, but a flyout and double play ended the inning.
Miller stayed in for the ninth, and got the Guardians out in quick order to wrap up a mighty fine afternoon game.
Final: Tigers 10, Guardians 1