Oh hey, guys, this game had terrible, terrible defense on show, but the Tigers won so it was actually still pretty fun?
The Tigers got things started early and in the best way possible with a Miguel Cabrera solo home run in the first inning. It’s a lovely treat for the team to lead in the first (don’t get too excited, it didn’t last), but there were some definite concerns visible in this game.
Jose Ureña actually had a strong outing as the game’s starter, but his first inning was a bit shaky. He gave up back-to-back singles to Tim Anderson and Adam Eaton, then Anderson was able to score on a Candelario error.
In the second the Tigers didn’t get anywhere offensively, and in the bottom of the inning they collected their next error, on a fielding error from Ureña. The two White Sox baserunners were left stranded, however, so no damage was ultimately done.
Robbie Grossman collected a single in the third but was left on base. In the bottom of the third Eaton and Moncada singled back-to-back. Eaton scored on a Mercedes single, and the Tigers got their third error in as many innings, again on a Candelario throwing error (though this one could have just as easily been blamed on Castro, frankly).
At some point around here, Kirk Gibson went on one of the most absurd and random tangents I’ve heard in recent memory as he tried to make a case that old Swedish buffet restaurant Sweden House was somehow the perfect metaphor for what the Tigers needed to do in order to improve themselves. Bless the Tigers production truck for finding images to back this up, but I’m frankly still scratching my head.
The fourth inning would have been a great time to go get a snack, take a bathroom break. Nothing happened on either side.
The bottom of the fifth inning brought us our second double play from the Tigers and our fourth error, this one a fielding error from Castro. Just absolutely abysmal defense in this game. Unbelievable.
In the top of the sixth Grossman reached on a walk (insert the Moneyball “he gets on base” gif here), and Cabrera reached on an infield single, but neither scored. At this point I was about ready to start pre-writing my “Tigers lost” recap, but lo, what’s that? A mounting Giolito pitch count and no sign of Tony La Russa stirring in the White Sox dugout? Hmmm.
The Sox got a Mercedes single, a Lamb walk, and a Garcia single in the bottom of the sixth, but the Tigers also managed their third double play of the game. It doesn’t exactly erase the errors, but it’s still nice to see.
In the seventh inning, the wheels fell off of Giolito’s wagon and the Tigers were ready to take advantage. As Giolito crossed over the century mark in pitches thrown, it became evident his command was shaky. Castro walked to lead off the inning, Ramos doubled to get the game-tying run across, then Niko Goodrum homered to score himself and Ramos and give the Tigers the lead. Inexplicably TLR left Giolito on for a 114 pitch total, allowing another walk to Grossman before he was pulled.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tim Anderson walked, but then got caught stealing second in an incredible throw from Ramos. The call was taken to review, but the called out stood, and Ureña got out of the inning without issue. His final line for the night was 7 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 0 HR on 98 pitches.
In the top of the eighth it was Jonathan Schoop’s turn, and he hit a solo home run to bump the Tigers lead up to 5-2.
Cisnero came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth, and after an initial strikeout started to look pretty uneven. A single to Mercedes and a walk to Grandal put two men on. At this point I’m also wondering if the White Sox DJ is aware there should be a limit on how many times you can play the “everybody clap your hands” song because three times over the course of an inning might be excessive.
Anyway, Cisnero got out of the inning relatively unscathed, but he’ll probably spend his night reliving that Billy Hamilton at-bat and having nightmares.
The Sox made their own error in the top of the ninth that left Ramos safe on first, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the runner. In the bottom of the inning Gregory Soto came on, and got the Sox out in order, ending on a nice grab at first from Schoop.
Final: Tigers 5, White Sox 2, Losing Streak ends.