The Tigers staged quite the comeback for an extra innings win against the Sox, going 5-4 in 10 innings.
The Tigers were looking to complete their series sweep against the White Sox on a fine-looking Father’s Day at Comerica Park. They’d won the first two games of the series, and while today’s game was originally meant to feature the return of Justin Verlander, that was ultimately not meant to be, after he injured his hamstring in a bullpen session. A question emerges as to whether we’ll actually see
Verlander take the mound again this season, but for today’s game it was going to be Keider Montero’s turn on the bump. He was up against Davis Martin for the White Sox.
Montero was clearly using this game as an opportunity to spotlight why he needs to remain a part of the Tigers’ starting rotation, as he got the first three White Sox out in order before the game felt like it had even started. In the home half, Kevin McGonigle took a leadoff walk. However, he was left stranded as the next three batters went out in order.
The White Sox went 1-2-3 in the top of the second, but the Tigers did the same in the bottom of the inning. It was shaping up to be one of those games.
Montero continued to plow through the Sox as he went three-up, three-down again for the third. Zach McKinstry got a one-out double in the home half, and then McGonigle got another walk (despite the White Sox challenging the ball four call, it was upheld). Dillon Dingler then hit into a double play to end the inning and the Tigers’ best scoring chance so far in the game.
It was another 1-2-3 inning for the White Sox in the fourth, and man, Montero has looked good and super efficient today using just over thirty pitches to get through four innings. In the bottom of the inning, Riley Greene got a one-out single, but was another victim of an inning-ending double play, this time off the bat of Spencer Torkelson.
The White Sox got their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth with a one-out single from Braden Montgomery. Two outs followed, though, keeping the game scoreless. Colt Keith got the home half underway with a leadoff single. Two outs followed, then Keith stole second. McKinstry singled, bringing Keith home and getting the Tigers on the board first. They’d have to settle for just the one run, but it was a start.
The Tigers’ lead was short-lived. Tristan Peters singled to start the inning, then right on his heels, Luisangel Acuna got his first home run of the year to bring in two runs and push the White Sox into the lead. Montero righted the ship, turning it around to get the next three batters out in order, but the Tigers would now need to come back from a one-run deficit. Onto the home half, Riley Greene got a two-out walk. Spencer Torkelson singled right up the middle into center and Greene pushed to third. Unfortunately despite the hustle, a Colt Keith out ended the inning scoreless.
Montgomery got a one-out single inthe top of the seventh. After the second out, Edgar Quero singled, bumping Montgomery up to third. Peters then hit a ground-rule double, bringing Montgomery home. The Sox were up 3-1 at the seventh inning stretch. Davis Martin’s day was done after six, and he was replaced by Bryan Hudson. A pinch-hitting Hao-Yu Lee replaced Trei Cruz and hit a one-out double. Hudson was charged with an error for a pickoff attempt at second that ended up in center field. Lee wound up at third, but the Tigers failed to take advantage of the extra 90 feet and a pop-out ended the inning.
Montero’s day was done after seven, and despite the score he had a really tremendous outting. His final line for the game was 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR on 76 pitches. He was efficient and pitched to a lot of contact. It just so happened that some of that contact went the wrong way. Still, don’t let the numbers tell the whole story, because it was some very good pitching, especially through the first four innings. Drew Sommers came out of the pen to tackle the eighth inning. He got through the side in order to give the Tigers another chance to stage a comeback. Grant Taylor was the new pitcher for the White Sox in the bottom of the inning and he immediately gave up a home run to Dingler.
With two outs, Torkelson walked. The Tigers weren’t able to convert another runner, though, but they had inched back within one run, and would have one more inning to get there.
Kyle Finnegan came in for the ninth and with some help from the infield, he was able to get through the side in order. It was down to the bottom of the ninth for the Tigers to stage a comeback if they were going to win one for dad on Father’s Day. They would have to face Seranthony Domínguez to get it done. With two outs it was Jahmai Jones who got a single to keep the game alive. The Sox did challenge the safe call at first, but it was upheld. Kevin McGonigle had a chance to be a hero and he worked the count before hitting a single to push Jones to third. The game was still alive for Dingler. Despite some questionable calls (and some questionable non-use of ABS challenges, and an overlooked pitch clock violation…) Dingler singled into left, bringing Jones in to tie the game.
A Carpenter groundout ended the inning, but the game was tied and the Tigers would have another chance in extras.
Will Vest was the reliever on the mound for the tenth. A Quero flyout pushed the ghost runner to third, then Peters hit a sac fly to bring Gonzalez home, putting the Sox back into the lead. In the home half, Brandon Eisert was the new pitcher for the Sox. A Riley Greene single bumped ghost runner Carpenter over to third. Torkelson singled, bringing the tying run home.
A mistake from first baseman Gonzalez who was obviously going for a fielder’s choice out at first left the bases loaded with no outs. Jordan Hicks came in for the Sox and then gave up a single to Matt Vierling to walk off the game with a scoring run from Riley Greene. Tigers win!
