Because a home run party don’t stop.
We’ve officially arrived at the last week of baseball before the All-Star Break, with only two series left. The first up is a three-game match against the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that has somehow managed to tie the Yankees’ record, and would likely be inching towards the top of the AL East if not for the surprising dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays. They were featuring Shane Baz as their starter, up against Keider Montero for the Tigers.
In the first, Yandy Diaz started things off with a single. Jonathan Aranda then hit into a double play to eliminate the baserunner. A strikeout then ended the inning. In the home half, Gleyber Torres got a one-out walk. He was then eliminated in a fielder’s choice off the bat of Zach McKinstry. Two outs followed, leaving him stranded.
The Rays went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the home half, Dillon Dingler kicked things off with a double, then with two outs, Javier Baez hit a homer into the bullpen to put the Tigers on the board.
Colt Keith doubled down the first base line, but the Tigers would have to settle for just the two runs.
With one out in the third, Taylor Walls took a walk. Danny Jansen then singled to put two on. With two outs, Jonathan Aranda singled to bring Walls home. It was the only run they would score for the inning, but it put them on the board. The final out of the top half was this incredible throw from McKinstry.
Seriously that is a ridiculous throw, probably ill-advised in the situation. Also note Javy standing perfectly still like nothing was happening before snaring the ball and making a diving tag. Is tags above replacement a stat? It should be in Báez’s case.
In the home half, Spencer Torkelson got a two-out single, but the Tigers left him stranded.
The top of the fourth, the Rays went down in order, including a stellar catch from All-Star Riley Greene.
Parker Meadows started the home half of the fourth with a single. Unfortunately, a pop-out and double play ended the inning with no scoring runs.
The Rays got one baserunner in the fifth, a one-out double from dangerous steal threat Chandler Simpson. A flyout and groundout ended the inning before he had a chance to nab a free bag. Colt Keith started the home half with a double. Then two outs followed, before Riley Greene came in and singled to bring Keith home.
The Rays once again went down in order in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the inning, Dingler walked, but was then eliminated in a force out off the bat of Parker Meadows. Meadows then stole second. The Tigers ultimately left him stranded.
Montero’s day was done after six, with a final line of 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K on 68 pitches. A solid night for him. Tyler Holton came in out of the pen in relief, and he got the Rays out in order. Paul Gervase replaced Baz in the home half, and almost immediately gave up a solo home run to Colt Keith.
Then, with one out, Zach McKinstry made a case to be an All-Star reserve, with a solo home run of his own. It would be the final run of the inning, but the Tigers extended their lead to 5-1.
Brenan Hanifee was the next reliever out of the Tigers’ pen. Chandler Simpson got a leadoff single, but Hanifee got the next three outs to eliminate the threat. In the home half with one out there was a wild moment where Rays’ outfielder Junior Caminero went over the wall to attempt a catch, and he got folded in half, breaking one of the seats in the process and getting so stuck he needed about six people to get him loose. The fan whose seat he landed in was luckily not in the seat at the time.
Will Vest was in for the ninth, hoping to maintain the Tigers’ lead and clinch their win. Josh Lowe battled out a two-out walk. But Vest came around to get the final out of the inning and lock down a win.