The Detroit Tigers started a three-game series against the Miami Marlins Monday night, with the Tigers winning the first game 6-5. Matt Manning took the mound for the Tigers at home, while Sixto Sanchez was on the bump for the visiting Marlins. Detroit’s lineup was able to get to Sanchez fairly early in the game, starting in the bottom of the second inning, where they scored three runs against the Marlins pitcher.
The Marlins answered back in the top of the fifth, with Manning giving up 3 earned runs to them and leaving after pitching 5.2 innings. Alex Faedo came in to relieve Manning and was able to close out the sixth inning, but he gave up a two-run homer in the eighth, making it 5-3 Marlins.
Luckily, in the bottom of the eighth, Ibanez drove home Wencel Perez on a single, making it 5-4. Torkelson hit a go-ahead two-run homer to make it 6-5 Tigers. Detroit’s closer, Jason Foley, was able to close the game out on 15 pitches.
How will the rest of the series unfold?
Torkelson Continues Hit Streak with 2-Run Homer
Tigers First Baseman Spencer Torkelson upped his hitting streak to eight games with his two-run home run against the Miami Marlins. After not hitting a homer for all of April and part of May, he was able to hit his first homer against the Astros on Sunday, May 12th, and then hit his second one last night.
I’d say only having 2 home runs on the season in the middle of May would be worrisome for a power hitter like Spencer Torkelson. But this time last season, he had three and finished the 2023 season with 31 home runs under his belt. While he’s about on a pace similar to last season, I’m hoping that he begins to homer more consistently. And from how he’s been swinging the bat lately, I’m pretty sure he’ll finish the season with more homers than he did last season.
While some Tigers fans have been hard on him so far this season, I’m sure the two-run go-ahead homer that also plated Andy Ibanez helped him get into some of the fans’ good graces.
Pitching Performances
Neither Manning nor Sanchez were able to make it to the 6th inning in Monday’s game, with Sanchez leaving after 4.2 innings of work and Manning leaving after 5.2. Due to an error in the bottom of the second by Marlin’s shortstop, Vidal Brujan, 3 runs were able to be scored against Sixto Sanchez, with all of them being unearned.
With a 3-0 lead to work with, Manning pitched scoreless third and fourth innings but ended up giving up three earned runs to Bryan De La Cruz, Josh Bell, and Jesus Sanchez in the top of the fifth inning. He came back out for the sixth but exited after 81 pitches, with Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch putting in Alex Faedo, who was able to end the inning.
Faedo pitched well on the mound for 2.1 innings but did give up a two-run home run to Otto Lopez. Andy Ibanez and Spencer Torkelson were able to pull off some late-inning heroics in the bottom of the 8th against relief pitcher Anthony Maldonado. Jason Foley pitched in the 9th inning and slammed the door shut, securing the 6-5 Tigers win over the Marlins.
Tigers/Marlins Game 2
Game 2 of the Tigers/Marlins three-game set is set to take place on Tuesday, May 14th, at 6:40 PM EST. Reese Olson will be toeing the rubber for the Tigers, while Ryan Weathers will be pitching for the Marlins. Olson sports a 0-4 record with a 2.52 ERA, and Ryan Weathers has a 2-4 record with a 4.54 ERA on the season. Here’s hoping the Tigers can get Reese Olson his first win of the 2024 season.
About the Author
Shawn Simpson has been a fan of the Detroit Tigers since he was a kid and also a video game fan. You can check out his other work here. Make sure to check out all the great content that Total Apex Sports has to offer. Be sure to check us out on X @TotalApexSports, as well as our other sites, such as Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
