Four in a row! The baseball gods are good!
After winning three games in a row, and taking the first two of their series against the Diamondbacks, the Tigers were looking to sweep their first series after the All-Star break this afternoon. To make it happen, they were relying on new trade acquisition Chris Paddack getting the nod to start. The Diamondbacks were leaning on Ryne Nelson.
Geraldo Perdomo got a two-out single for Arizona in the top of the second, but he was then caught stealing to end the inning. In the home half, Colt Keith kicked things off with a single, and was then eliminated in a force-out off the bat of Kerry Carpenter. Gleyber Torres then singled to put two on. A Spencer Torkelson flyout ended the inning with two runners stranded.
The Diamondbacks went down in order in the top of the second, with one of those outs being an incredible catch by Carpenter.
In the home half, the Tigers also went 1-2-3.
The Diamondbacks were once again three-up, three-down in the third. In the bottom of the inning, Colt Keith got a one-out single. Kerry Carpenter then got a two-out triple, scoring the first run of the game.
It didn’t take long for the DBacks to get that run back, however. Corbin Carroll doubled to start the fourth, and he then advanced to second on a Ketel Marte groundout. A Perdomo single brought Carroll home and the game was tied 1-1. Two outs followed. In the home half the Tigers went down in order.
The Diamondbacks went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. Really nice start from Paddack so far. In the bottom of the inning with one out Jake Rogers reached on a fielding error by Perdomo, and was able to advance all the way to second on another error by Perdomo. The Tigers quickly made the DBacks pay for those errors as Colt Keith singled to bring Rogers home. With two outs, Carpenter hit a two-run homer to bring the score to 4-1.
The Diamondbacks went 1-2-3 again in the top of the sixth. That was the end of the day for Paddack, who really made a welcome introduction in Detroit. His final line for the game was 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, on 84 pitches. Looking forward to seeing if that level of performance holds. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Kyle Backhus replaced Nelson. Wenceel Perez then doubled, followed by a ground-rule double from Zach McKinstry. With two outs, Jake Rogers then hammered a three-run homer to put the Tigers up 7-1. We’re so back, baby!
A pinch-hitting Andy Ibanez, in for Keith, singled, but no additional runs scored.
Brenan Hanifee came in for Paddack in the seventh and got three outs in a row. Andrew Saalfrank was the new DBacks pitcher in the bottom of the inning, and he gave up a leadoff walk to Carpenter. Riley Greene then singled. Greene was eliminated on a force-out off the bat of Torkelson. With two outs, Torkelson stole second, but ultimately the Tigers weren’t able to bring him home.
Adrian Del Castillo got a leadoff walk for Arizona in the eighth. Tristin English then singled to put two on. Blaze Alexander eased the stress a little by grounding into a double play, then a Jorge Barrosa flyout ended the inning. The Tigers went down in order in the bottom of the inning. Is Saalfrank available for trade?
Tommy Kahnle came in for the ninth, hoping to get a clean inning to secure the win. With two outs, Perdomo hit a solo home run. Eugenio Suarez doubled. Thankfully, despite the added stress, Kahnle did collect the final out to end the game.
Final: Tigers 7, Diamondbacks 2