Here’s a question for the ages: is it still “getaway day” if the team is just moving to a different stadium in the same city? Mull over that while I break down this relatively miserable game made only slightly more bearable by the presence of Dan Dickerson in the TV booth.
The Cubs had Justin Steele on the mound, while the Tigers once again returned to their bullpen, with Tyler Holton playing the opener, and Kenta Maeda being the bulk innings man.
In the first Matt Vierling hit a leadoff single, but was left stranded with three outs following. The Cubs likewise went down in order in the home half.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the bottom of the inning, Kenta Maeda replaced Tyler Holton, and gave up a leadoff single to Seiya Suzuki. Nico Hoerner got a one-out single, then Dansby Swanson singled to load the bases. Miguel Amaya hit a grand slam with two outs, to clear the bases and put the Cubs up 4-0. Ian Happ drew a walk, but the Cubs were unable to bring in any additional runs.
In the third, the Tigers went three-up, three-down. As for the Cubs, Cody Bellinger got a leadoff double, followed by a Suzuki walk. Michael Busch then singled to load the bases once again. A Nico Hoerner groundout scored Bellinger. While Dansby Swanson did reach on a fielder’s choice and steal second, the Cubs were only able to manage the one run.
Colt Keith got a one-out single in the top of the fourth, but was quickly eliminated on a double play to end the inning. The Cubs continued to get the better of Maeda in the home half, with Ian Happ hitting a one-out double, then Cody Bellinger getting a two-out single to bring Happ home. The Cubs were up 6-0 at the end of four.
Again, the Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. The Cubs, thankfully, did the same in the bottom of the inning.
In the sixth it was another three-up, three-down. For the home half, Miguel Amaya hit a one-out single, but no runs scored.
Colt Keith got himself another one-out single in the top of the seventh, but this time it went somewhere. Spencer Torkelson hit a tw-run homer to put the Tigers on the board.
Maeda was done for the day and Joey Wentz came on. Michael Busch got a two-out walk, then Hoerner and Swanson got back-to-back singles, with Swanson’s scoring Busch. Hoerner then stole second. Pete Crow-Armstrong then doubled to bring in two more runs. Amaya singled, and while originally called out at the plate, the review went the Cubs’ way, and Crow-Armstrong scored as well. After seven innings the score was 10-2.
Ethan Roberts replaced Justin Steele in the eighth. While Javier Baez did get a single, no runs scored. Sean Guenther was next out of the Tigers’ pen, and had a nice 1-2-3 inning.
Jack Neely came out for the top of the ninth with little to fear from the Tigers’ offense. Torkelson got a two-out walk, but a flyout ended the game.
Hey. At least they play the White Sox next.
Final: Cubs 10, Tigers 2