I would start this recap by talking about the importance of the Tigers avoiding a sweep, and how they need to come together to prove they are a better team than what we’ve been seeing from them, but that’s just stating the obvious at this point and the Mets are starting Nolan McLean, who totally dazzled viewers in the World Baseball Classic. So what I’m saying is that every game could be anything and we’ll just see what happens. Keider Montero was on the mound for the Tigers and he’s been having
a respectable season so far, so let’s cross our fingers and just go with it.
Colt Keith got a one-out walk in the first, followed by a single from Riley Greene, who has been a real highlight in this series. With two outs, Gage Workman came through with a home run to score three.
Despite his heroics in the top of the inning, Workman was quickly charged with an error in the home half that allowed Carson Benge to get safely to first. Three outs (including one challenged one by Bo Bichette) followed, ending the threat by the Mets.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the home half with one out, Brett Baty got a walk, but he was very quickly eliminated in a double-play off the bat of Marcus Semien.
With two outs in the third, Riley Greene continued his incredible efforts this series with a single, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the baserunner. The Mets did manage to get one back, though, in the home half as A.J. Ewing got a solo home run to start things off. Three outs followed, but the Mets had started to chip away at the lead.
Gage Workman continued to have one heck of a game, starting the fourth with a leadoff double. Zach McKinstry then singled, sending Workman to second, but he was called out at the plate. It was pretty clear from both replay and the naked eye that he was safe, but when the Tigers called for a review, the call on the field was upheld. A.J. Hinch then got ejected for having it out with the umpires about the insanely incorrect review play. This series has just been crazy with umpire nonsense. A double play ended the inning. With two outs in the home half, M.J. Melendez walked. Baty then homered, bouncing a ball off the orange outfield line. The call of a homer was reviewed, but upheld, and the game was tied. Marcus Semien followed that up with a single. The final out of the inning came on a crazy good catch by Kevin McGonigle who practically ran a half-marathon to snag the ball.
Wenceel Perez got the fifth going with a leadoff single. There was a pickoff attempt of Perez at first, and he was ruled safe by the Mets, who challenged. Somehow, this call was overturned. Did someone hire some Etsy witches to curse this team or something? Jake Rogers then walked. Wonder if someone wants to challenge that and have it overturned, too. Really, the only thing the Tigers had working in their favor at this point in the game was that McLean wasn’t at his best, showing shaky command. Yet, Keider Montero, who barely gave up any home runs all season, gave up two in one game. So no one is really playing their best, are they? The Tigers didn’t manage to convert any baserunners, but the universe conspiring against them didn’t help. The weirdest series ever continued. Benge got a one-out single, then stole second. Initially, he was called out, but the Mets challenged and it was overturned. With two outs, that was it for Montero. He went 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR on 70 pitches. Certainly not his best outing. Tyler Holton came out of the bullpen to replace him. A Juan Soto single scored Benge. Then, because this game and series are what they are, Mark Vientos homered, putting the score up to 6-3 for the Mets. The Tigers finally got out of the inning, but they’d have a long way to go to get a win at this point.
Riley Greene took a leadoff walk in the sixth. After that, they went down in order, though, leaving Greene stranded. Enmanuel De Jesus was the new Tigers pitcher in the home half. With one out, Semien walked. A.J. Ewing then singled, continuing his impressive debut series. Semien moved up to third. Hayden Senger played the coward’s game with a sac bunt, scoring Semien. With the second out of the inning De Jesus was done. Brenan Hanifee came in and got the final out of the inning. The Mets were up 7-3.
In the seventh, Spencer Torkelson was hit by a pitch, but even with a free baserunner, the Tigers couldn’t make anything happen. Heading into the home half, Juan Soto got a leadoff home run. With two outs after that, the Tigers switched over to Ricky Vanasco, who got the final out of the inning.
McLean’s day was finally done after seven innings, and he was replaced by Tobias Myers. With two outs in the eighth, Dillon Dingler got a solo home run. The Tigers would have to settle for just the one run, and then as the game headed to the home half, the Mets got it right back with a leadoff home run off the foul pole by Semien. With two outs, we had to take a break so Benge could have someone put in eye drops for him. Maybe the drops helped, because he singled. Bo Bichette then walked, but the Mets weren’t able to bring any additional runs in.
Craig Kimbrel came in for the Mets for the top of the ninth. He got the Tigers out in order and the series limped over the finish line.
