The Tigers were starting their week back home in Detroit against the Angels, hoping to carry the luck of their Sunday win along with them. To get them there, they had Keider Montero on the mound up against Jack Kochanowicz.
Things started well, with Montero getting the Angels out in order. Kevin McGonigle got the home hald going with a leadoff single, but Dillon Dingler grounded into a double play to eliminate the baserunner. A Riley Greene strikeout then ended the inning.
Jorge Soler started the second
with a single, then Wade Meckler singled behind him, advancing Soler to third. Montero righted the ship and got himself out of the jam by getting the next three batters out in order. In the home half, Colt Keith hit the strangest comebacker I’ve ever seen, as the ball headed right back to the mound at Kochanowicz’s feet and the shot straight up about a sixty feet in the air, letting Keith get safely to first. Kochanowicz appeared to be okay. Spencer Torkelson was then hit by a pitch. A wild pitch from Kochanowicz advanced the runners and brought the trainers back out, because he was certainly out of sorts all of a sudden. A Zach McKinstry flyout brought Keith home and put the Tigers on the board first. They would only get the one run, but it was a good start.
Logan O’Hoppe hit a leadoff single between diving fielders to start the third. Zach Neto then walked. A one out single by Vaughn Grissom right up the middle, once again slipping by diving fielders, scored two runs and put the Angels out ahead. With two outs, Wade Meckler singled back to the mound and the Tigers were able to get the final out of the inning tagging Grissom out at the plate. In the home half, McGonigle got back on base with a one-out single. Two outs followed, leaving McGonigle stranded.
Jo Adell homered to start the fourth. With one out Donovan Walton doubled, and one out later Neto doubled to bring in another run. Montero did get the final out of the inning, but considering how well the Tigers have been doing at staging comebacks this season, I wouldn’t blame you if this was where you tapped out. Colt Keith wasn’t going to go down without a fight, though, and he hit a triple to center, sneaking it right by Mike Trout. With one out, McKinstry hit a sac fly to score Keith.
The Angels went 1-2-3 for the fifth. In the bottom of the inning Matt Vierling got a leadoff single, followed by a walk to Wenceel Perez. And I’ll be eating my words, as McGonigle came through with a triple into right, scoring both baserunners and tying up the game.
Dingler took a walk despite O’Hoppe challenging the fourth ball call. That was the end of the day for Kochanowicz, which should be good news for the Tigers, as the Angels’ bullpen is… not great. Mitch Farris came in and gave up a wild pitch to put Dingler on second. Riley Greene walked to load the bases. A pinch-hitting Jahmai Jones, brought in to face the lefty reliever, came through with a single, scoring McGonigle. Still no outs. Spencer Torkelson was very close to hitting a grand slam, coming nearly in line with the foul pole, but after review, the call was upheld. With two outs, Hao-Yu Lee came in to replace Workman, but a flyout ended the inning.
With one out in the sixth, Oswald Peraza was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Montero’s day was done and he was replaced by Brenan Hanifee. Montero’s final line for the game was 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR on 89 pitches. Not a great outing, but not his worst. Hanifee got the final out of the inning. In the home half, Perez hit a one-out home run.
McGonigle continued to be as consistent as they come, getting a walk. After the second out of the inning, a wild pitch advanced McGonigle to second, then Riley Greene walked. That was it for Farris who was replaced by José Fermin, who got the final out of the inning.
Neto singled to start the seventh. Grissom singled with one out, bumping Neto over to third. That was it for Hanifee, who was replaced by Will Vest, who battled it out and won against Soler. The final out of the inning was a very nice catch at the wall by Greene.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
In the eighth, Peraza got a one-out single. A groundout advanced Peraza to second, and then an O’Hoppe double (missed spectacularly by Perez in center), brought Peraza home. Neto then singled back to Vest, who was fine. Mike Trout walked to load the bases. Grissom then hit a grand slam. Tyler Holton came in to get the final out of the inning. Chase Silseth was the new Angels pitcher for the inning. The Tigers went down in order again, which isn’t really the best way to make a comeback.
Siri started the ninth with a solo home run because, sure, why not at this point? Three outs followed, and the Tigers were down to their final three outs to make something happen. Kirby Yates came in and gave up a leadoff walk to Dingler. That would be it for baserunners, though, as the Tigers then went down in order and the game was over.
