The Tigers are going streaking as they took the first game of their series against the Yankees 5-3.
After sweeping the White Sox over the weekend, the Tigers were riding high as they invited the Yankees to come to town. The AL East’s top team, the Yankees weren’t planning to go down quite as easily as the White Sox. The Tigers had Framber Valdez on the mound, but the Yankees had their big gun, in Gerrit Cole. While Cole only came back from the IL somewhat recently, runs would still be coming at a premium
for the Tigers hitters tonight.
In the top of the first, Valdez got two outs before giving up a single to Paul Goldschmidt. Cody Bellinger then walked. This could have been a bad news situation for the Tigers, but Valdez got out of the jam. Kevin McGonigle, one of the most reliable bats in the Tigers’ lineup, singled to start the home half, but three outs then followed to leave him stranded.
The Yankees made another two-out move, with Jose Caballero walking. He then stole second. Ali Sanchez doubled, sending Caballero home and putting the Yankees on the board first. A groundout ended the inning, but the Yankees were up 1-0. Spencer Torkelson hit a leadoff double to start the bottom of the inning, but three outs in a row meant no comeback for the Tigers.
Goldschmidt got another single in the third with one out. A force-out off the bat of Cody Bellinger eliminated Goldschmidt. Valdez got the final out of the inning with no runs scored. Zach McKinstry tripled (!!) to start the home half. McGonigle grounded out, but it was enough to get McKinstry home and tie up the game.
Kerry Carpenter got a two-out single, followed by a walk to Riley Greene. Torkelson then singled, bringing Carpenter home.
A Colt Keith single brought home Greene, and by the time the final out of the inning came, with Outman, Gerrit Cole had been worn down considerably, and the Tigers were up 3-1. I also take back everything I said about runs coming at a premium against Cole, because… yeah.
Valdez got the Yankees out in order for the top of the fourth. In the home half, Hao-Yu Lee got a leadoff single and then there was a unique and lengthy break while the Yankees’ infield all stared at Dirt Cam and it seemed like they might have tried to murder Dirt Cam. The ground crew had to come out and fix it. Truly gripping television, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. was invested.
Kevin McGonigle doubled, scoring Lee, and thanks to some sloppy fielding from Caballero, McGonigle reached third safely while everyone tried to find the ball behind home plate.
Valdez was really in his groove at this point, perhaps egged on by a need to avenge Dirt Cam. He got the Yankees out in order in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning while a crew of precocious 11-year-olds showed off their genuinely very fun signs (“No sad backstory, I just want a signed ball.”) Riley Greene hit a solo home run.
The Tigers called for a review, citing catcher interference on Torkelson. This led to another lengthy game pause. It was interference, putting Torkelson on first. After getting the first out of the inning, Cole’s night was over. Paul Blackburn replaced him, and got the final two outs of the inning.
Valdez, in likely his last inning for the game, showed how killer his curveball was tonight, striking out two of the three outs for the inning, and leaving Anthony Volpe looking silly in an ABS challenge. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the home half.
The day was over for Valdez after six, with a final line of 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K on 94 pitches. A really strong outing for him. Drew Anderson came out of the pen to replace him. With two outs, Ali Sanchez got hit in the wrist with a pitch and it looked incredibly painful. He was pulled from the game and Austin Wells came on to replace him at first. Amed Rosario then homered, and the game was suddenly uncomfortably close. The Tigers got the final out but the score was now 5-3. Ryan Yarbrough was the new Yankees pitcher in the bottom of the inning. He gave up a one-out walk to Riley Greene, but two outs followed.
With one out in the top of the eighth A.J. Hinch did the classic Drew-for-Drew bullpen swap, pulling Anderson for Sommers. Volpe singled with two outs, though the Tigers called for a review. The safe call was upheld. Chisholm Jr. hit a single right back to Sommers, nearly beheading him, and ultimately chasing him from the game. Hinch apparently decided to go for Vest to get the final out for… reasons? Vest came through in a pinch, though, and got the final out of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, James Outman walked. Lee then singled on a bunt back to the pitcher, to an empty first base and Yarbrough chased him down. The Yankees challenged the safe call, but it was really, really hard to see when the tag was applied. The dark uniform pants made it really hard to see, but the call was overturned and Lee was out. Volpe made a pretty impressive play to get the second out of the inning at first. The Tigers weren’t able to bring home Outman, but they retained their lead heading into the ninth.
Vest was back out for the ninth. The third out of the inning was a called third strike on what was very clearly a ball, but the Yankees had no challenges left and thus lost the game. Sorry not sorry.
