Tigers 1, Cubs 3: Cubs win series opener despite Torkelson’s 4-hit night

At least someone had a good night.

The Tigers headed to the Windy City for a two-team road trip, with three games against the Cubs to start the week, and a four-game weekend series against the White Sox to round it off.

Detroit continued to employ its bullpen in lieu of a start, with Alex Faedo playing the opener against Javier Assad for the Cubs.

In the first, Parker Meadows got things going with a leadoff walk. Three quick outs followed, however. In the home half, Seiya Suzuki got a two-out walk, then Cody Bellinger singled, but Faedo got the final out of the inning with a pop out to leave them stranded.

Onto the second, and Spencer Torkelson got a one-out single, then Jace Jung singled after him. Dillon Dingler got his own single to bring Tork home and put the Tigers on the board first. It was also nice to see Javy getting love in his old stomping ground. With two outs in the home half, Faedo was done for the day, being replaced by Bryan Sammons, who came in to get the final out of the inning.

The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the bottom of the inning, Ian Happ got a one-out singled, then advanced to second on a passed ball from Dingler. Michael Busch walked to put two men on. But Sammons got the final out, leaving them scoreless.

Spencer Torkelson was having himself a night, with a one-out single, but Jace Jung grounded into a double play to end the innings. The Cubs settled for a walk from Dansby Swanson, but no runs scored.

Dingler managed to get himself a triple to start the fifth, but even with a runner 90 feet away, the Tigers failed to bring him home. Unfortunately a one-run lead was a tenuous lead at best, and in the home half it all fell apart. Ian Happ got a one-out walk, then Michael Busch singled. Cody Bellinger doubled to score two before getting caught in a rundown heading to third.

In the sixth, Colt Keith got a two-out single, chasing Assad from the game. Torkelson continued to dominate with another single, but a strikeout ended the inning to leave two men aboard. With two outs in the home half, Dansby Swanson homered to put the Cubs up 3-1.

The Tigers went three-up, three-down in the top of the seventh. Shelby Miller came on in the bottom half and got the Cubs out in order.

Old friend Drew Smyly came out for the Cubs in the eighth and allowed a single to Matt Vierling, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. But Smyly got the final out of the inning to leave the Tigers with nothing. The Cubs went down in order in the home half.

Onto the ninth and the Tigers’ last shot at getting something going. Spencer Torkelson doubled, but the final two outs were collected, with it being somewhat poetic that the last of the night was Javier Baez.

Final: Cubs 3, Tigers 1