The Tigers continued their post-All-Star Break road trip with a visit to see some guys it feels like we just finished playing.
In Cleveland it was All-Star Tarik Skubal on the mound against Carlos Carrasco, and the Tigers weren’t about to waste any time getting on the board.
In the top of the first. Matt Vierling started things off with a double, then one out later, Justyn-Henry Malloy homered to score two runs.
In the bottom of the inning, Skubal did his thing, going 1-2-3.
Wenceel Perez singled to start the second, then two outs later the unquestionable play of the day (I don’t care what else happens) was Jake Rogers hitting an inside-the-park home run that left him exhausted and flattened at home. The call was challenged, but stood, and it was ultimately ruled a triple E8, but we all know in our hearts it was an inside-the-park home run. Matt Vierling got a single, but no additional runs scored.
In the bottom half, David Fry hit a one-out single, followed by a Jhonkensy Noel walk. Tyler Freeman then singled to load the bases. An Austin Hedges single then brought Fry home.
Onto the third and the Tigers settled for a Mark Canha single, but left him stranded. The Guardians likewise had only one baserunner in the form of a Josh Naylor single, but a double play then ended the inning.
The Tigers went down in order in the top of the fourth. Onto the home half and Tyler Freeman got a one-out single, then Austin Hedges got a two-out single. No runs scored.
Things continued to chug along, as the Tigers once again went three-up, three-down in the top half. For the Guardians, Angel Martinez started things off with a double, but three outs followed to leave him on base.
In the sixth, the Tigers were able to take advantage of Cleveland’s brutal outfield performance. Mark Canha doubled, then Wenceel Perez hit what was ruled a double, but ended with him at third and Canha at home, with the Tigers extending their lead to 5-1 and Carrasco chased from the game. Pedro Avila came on in relief. Gio Urshela singled to score Perez. In the home half, Tyler Freeman got a single, but that was it for the Guardians.
Top of the seventh and with one out Matt Vierling singled, followed by a Colt Keith walk. That was it for Avila, and Tim Herrin came in to get the final out of the top half. A Jose Ramirez double was all the Guardians were able to muster in the bottom half. That was it for Skubal, another impressive outing despite the number of hits. His final line was 7.0 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR on 97 pitches.
Mark Canha singled to start the top of the eighth, but was eliminated on a force out off the back of Wenceel Perez. Perez then stole second, and the attempt from Hedges to get him out ended up somewhere in center field and Perez ended up at third. I think at this point we should thank the Guardians’ defense for helping the Tigers win this game. A Gio Urshela sac fly scored Perez. Onto the bottom half and Shelby Miller came out in relief for the Tigers. David Fry started things off with a single, but was eliminated on a force out, and two more out followed quickly to end the inning scoreless.
The game rolled into the ninth with the Tigers protecting a significant lead. Peter Strzelecki was next out of the Guardians’ pen and with two outs, gave up a solo home run to Colt Keith to pad that lead a little more.
Easton Lucas came in for the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth, and immediately hit Austin Hedges with a pitch. Then Steven Kwan singled, followed by an Angel Martinez walk to load the bases. Jose Ramirez hit into a forced out to eliminate Martinez, but Hedges was able to score. That was it for Lucas, who gave way to Andrew Chafin. Ramirez advanced to second on defensive indifference. Chafin did manage to get the final two outs of the inning and secure the Tigers’ win.
Final: Tigers 8, Guardians 2