Today’s game came on the heels of some big news, as Jackson Jobe was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 flexor strain. To replace him on the roster, the Tigers aggressively called up RHP Dylan Smith, a former 3rd rounder out of Alabama that has really come on this season but arrives almost directly from Double-A Erie after just days with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
The pitching matchup for this one was a good one, as a resurgent Casey Mize took on Royals righty Seth Lugo. These two faced off back in April, with Casey Mize pitching a gem. The last time these teams met, the Tigers took 3 of 4 from the Royals, but this time it was in Kansas City, home of the most delicious BBQ in the country (fight me).
Kerry Carpenter swung at the first pitch of the ballgame and grounded out to short. Gleyber Torres struck out swinging but Colt Keith extended the inning with a solid single through the box. Lugo would immediately regret giving up that hit, as Riley Greene launched a tactical nuke and sent a ball 429 feet to right field. It’s Greene’s longest HR of the year and gave the Tigers the early lead, even as Lugo managed to get out of the inning with a lineout from Torkelson.
Casey Mize took the mound with an early lead. Leadoff hitter Jonathan India gave a ball a ride but just short of the fence for a flyout to Greene. Bobby Witt Jr. decided he liked that approach, taking a Mize pitch to rough the same spot…only quite a bit higher for a home run. Vinnie Pasquantino battled and singled on another hard-hit ball, bringing up Salvador Perez. Sal mercifully flied out to right and Casey was on the verge of getting out of the inning. Maikel Garcia wouldn’t let that happen, however, hitting another hard ball that got to the outfield. The Royals were threatening again and fans immediately held their breath as Drew Waters hit a deep fly ball to left, towards the gap. However, Carpenter managed to get there in time, making a great catch over his head to snag the ball and end the inning.
The Tigers had liked batting against Lugo so much in the first they copied their homework in the second. After a Wenceel Pérez single and McKinstry flyout, Dillon Dingler launched one into the Tigers’ bullpen for another 2-run bomb. Lugo retired the next two batters but it was 4-1 Detroit and Lugo’s ERA had raised by 0.5 runs already.
Meanwhile, Mize rebounded from a rough first inning. He gave up a bloop two-out single, but struck out India on a fantastic splitter to end the inning.
Lugo also rebounded. He walked Torres but got a lineout and two strikeouts to escape damage.
The wheels came off for Mize in the third. The dangerous Witt Jr grounded out, but Mize walked the next batter. The ever-pesky Sal Perez almost effortlessly smacked a double, the 300th of his career. Mize then walked another guy to load the bases and the pressure was on. Unfortunately, Waters singled to center (past a diving Sweeney that got a bad jump) and drove in two runs. The throw in from the outfield was a bit suspect as well. Mize was able to strike out the next two batters to keep the Tigers lead at 4-3, but the cracks were showing.
Pérez made up for his poor throw in the last inning by hitting a leadoff single. McKinstry grounded into a force out, but he made up for it by stealing second thanks to a dropped throw. Dingler walked and the Royals somewhat shockingly pulled Lugo. Their bullpen has been highly taxed lately, so the move was a bit unexpected but the Royals were both trying to prevent the Tigers from blowing open the game, and trying not to lean on Lugo too hard as he just returned off the injured list with a finger issue. Daniel Lynch IV came in and AJ Hinch countered by pinch-hitting Andy Ibáñez for Sweeney. It backfired, as Andy grounded into an easy double play to end the threat.
McKinstry moved to SS and Ibáñez took over at the hot corner for the bottom of the 4th. Kyle Isbel hit a grounder off the mound and into center, leading off with a single. India hit a bloop to center that McKinstry had a bead on, calling everybody off….and he dropped it out of his glove. With two on, Witt Jr flied out to deep center. Pérez caught it and both runners advanced, taking advantage of another poor throw. With that, Mize’s day was done. It’s a bit crazy that two pitchers with shiny ERAs coming into the game both left in the 4th inning.
Brant Hurter came in to try to keep the lead intact. He got a strikeout, then Hinch intentionally walked Perez. With the dangerous Garcia up, Hurter got him to harmlessly fly out. Lead intact, Tigers still on top, fans exhaling.
Carpenter led off the 5th with a single, followed by a Torres walk. Keith struck out and Greene flied out before KC went to their bullpen again, bringing in righty Jonathan Bowlan. Tork battled him tough, getting to a full count on 7 pitches. On pitch 8, he shortened his swing and lined a single to left field, driving in a run. Pérez had his bat shattered and grounded out, but the Tigers had reinforced the lead.
Hurter returned for the fifth and, after a groundout, struck out a pinch-hitting Mark Canha (old friend alert). A walk to the light hitting Massey ruined his perfect inning but Hurter got Isbel to harmlessly ground out.
Detroit got a single but nothing more in the 6th.
The Royals, not giving up, gave new reliever Brenan Hanifee some trouble in the bottom of the frame. A deep single and a one-out walk put Sal Perez back up and he hit a double…play, grounding out to end the threat.
Taylor Clarke was brought in and had no difficulty retiring the Tigers in order in the 7th.
Hanifee gave up a triple to Garcia that was really more of Riley Greene being lackadaisical with the ball and then bobbling it as well, turning a double into a triple. Beau Brieske took the mound and managed to strike out Waters, a huge out. Canha hit a shallow fly ball that a charging Carpenter caught, but it was just deep enough and a tough enough play that Garcia scampered home. Beau rebounded to strike out Massey swinging, but the Royals had inched a bit closer.
Righty Andrew Hoffman made his major league debut in relief in the 8th. Tork worked a full count, iced the rook by taking a timeout, and then launched his 14th HR to deep center. Welcome to the big leagues, kid, here’s a welcome gift. He then hung a pitch down the middle to Perez, who made him pay with a double. Witt Jr made a great catch in foul ground for the first out, but Dingler smashed a grounder that made it through the infield, scoring Perez. Ibáñez was fooled by a great pitch to strike out, leaving it up to Carpenter. A passed ball moved the runner to second before Carpenter hit a ball down the line that was ruled just foul. The Tigers challenged but the call was upheld; Carp struck out on the following pitch.
Tommy Kahnle had the bottom of the 8th for Detroit. Tork flashed the leather, snagging a line drive for the first out. Kahnle blew India away with a 95 mph fastball, then got Witt to ground out. Dude’s ERA is down to 1.46. What a free agent signing.
KC’s rookie was back out for the 9th. A poor throw from Garcia allowed Torres to reach safely. Keith struck out, as did Greene. The rook does have a filthy changeup. Tork flew out to bring up the bottom of the 9th.
Will “safety” Vest was on to close out the game, looking for his 8th save. He had to go through the heart of the KC order to do it. Torres made a great play to get the first out. Vest had a nasty slider that struck out Sal Perez swinging. Garcia laced a single to the outfield, leaving it up to Waters. Garcia took second on fielder’s indifference before Waters scalded a ball that got by Vest and McKinstry, scoring a run. Waters took second on more indifference (I honestly hate that) while Vest suddenly struggled with his command. However, Torres easily snagged a grounder from Canha to end the game.
That makes it five straight wins for the once again streaking Detroit Tigers. They leaned on the bullpen tonight. Tomorrow they’ll have the game’s best pitcher to lean on instead as Tarik Skubal takes on RHP Michael Wacha, looking for a series victory.
