Two in a row, baby!
The past week has been rough for the Tigers, but coming off a tremendous win against the Blue Jays on Sunday, they seemed dead-set on bringing that winning attitude into the new week (and the rest of the season). They were facing the Diamondbacks for a three-game series to start the week. In the series opener, the Tigers turned to young Troy Melton, while the DBacks were leaning on Eduardo Rodriguez.
A no-hitter was off the table in the first at-bat, as Corbin Carroll singled to start the game. Three outs in a row followed, though, leaving Carroll stranded and the Diamondbacks scoreless. The Tigers, having struggled for runs in the past week, wasted little time getting on the board in tonight’s game. Gleyber Torres got a one-out walk, then Jahmai Jones hit into a force out to eliminate Torres. There was an initial out call at first for Jones, but the Tigers challenged, and the call was overturned.
Spencer Torkelson singled to center, but an odd deflection by Lourdes Gurriel Jr allowed Jones to score and Torkelson to get safely to third. The error was ultimately ruled to center fielder Alek Thomas.
In the top of the second, Gurriel Jr. singled with one out, and while the Tigers challenged the safe call, the call on the field was upheld. It ended up not mattering, though, as a strikeout double play ended the inning when Tristan English struck out, and Gurriel was caught stealing second. In the home half, Andy Ibanez doubled to start things off, then Dillon Dingler singled right behind him. With one out, Javier Baez singled to score Ibanez. A double play off the bat of Matt Vierling ended the inning, but the Tigers had extended their lead.
The Diamondbacks went 1-2-3 in the top of the third. The Tigers didn’t fare much better in the home half, with a one-out walk to Jones being the only baserunner they managed.
Ketel Marte kicked off the fourth with a single, but three outs followed to once again leave the leadoff man stranded. Things went a bit better for the leadoff man on Detroit’s side, as Ibanez came to the plate and hit a solo home run.
Dingler followed up with a single, then advanced to second on a groundout by Wenceel Perez. With two outs after a Baez strikeout, Matt Vierling came up and doubled, bringing Dingler home. The Tigers were up 4-0 at the end of four.
The Diamondbacks went 1-2-3 again in the fifth. The Tigers did the same in the home half.
In the sixth, Ketel Marte got a two-out single, but once again the DBacks failed to bring him in. In the bottom of the inning, with one out, Dingler hit a solo home run to extend the Tigers’ lead.
In the top of the seventh, Eugenio Suarez—still not traded to the Tigers—singled to start the inning. Adrian Del Castillo then grounded into a double play. A flyout ended the inning with no damage done. That was the end of the game for Melton, who had a truly wonderful second game as a Tiger (with his parents looking on, no less). His final line for the game was 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K on 87 pitches. Really exciting stuff from the young pitcher, and certainly one we’ll want to be keeping an eye on over the coming weeks. Kendall Graveman came out of the DBacks pen for the bottom of the inning. Gleyber Torres got a one-out single. A pinch-hitting Colt Keith then hit into a double play to end the inning.
Tommy Kahnle came in for the Tigers in the top of the eighth. With one out, Alek Thomas homered to give the Diamondbacks their first run. Corbin Carroll got a two-out walk. A Marte groundout ended the inning with only the one run scored. In the home half of the eighth, Kyle Backhus was the newest Diamondbacks reliever to come in. He gave up a leadoff single to Spencer Torkelson, but three outs followed, meaning the Tigers would have to protect their existing lead in the top of the ninth to hang on for the win.
Will Vest came on in the top of the ninth, and with one out, hit Suarez with a pitch. It was immediately clear that Suarez was in intense pain; it looked like the ball hit him in the thumb, and based on his reaction, it was a potential broken bone. Not ideal for one of the biggest trade targets (including for the Tigers) this season. Del Castillo singled. But with the tying run at the plate, Vest was able to induce a double play to hang on for the win.
Final: Tigers 5, Diamondbacks 1