The Detroit Tigers did just enough on another rainy evening at Comerica Park on Wednesday, eking out a one-run victory to extend their winning streak to six games.
The Tigers have now won 13 of their last 16 ballgames. That moves them to 68-66 on the season and combined with another Twins’ loss to the Braves on Wednesday, that puts the Tigers just 4.5 games out of the Wild Card in the American League.
Good pitching, strong defense and timely hitting have long been considered a recipe for success in Major League Baseball. The Tigers are rolling in all three facets of the game right now and a miraculous September run to the postseason doesn’t look as far-fetched as it did just one week ago.
Torkelson Powers Tigers
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Spencer Torkelson was the star of the show on offense on Wednesday, crushing a go-ahead two-run homer off of Angels’ right-hander Griffin Canning in the second inning that gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. What happened right before his at-bat though, may not have gotten the attention that it deserved.
With one out in the inning, rookie third baseman Jace Jung had flailed wildly at a couple of changeups and fallen behind in the count 1-2. After fouling off a pair of tough two-strike offerings, he took ball two. He then fouled off another pitch before taking ball three. Jung then fouled off another pitch before taking a changeup in the dirt to draw a walk on the 10th pitch of his at-bat. Knowing the grind that Canning just went through in Jung’s at-bat, the 25-year-old slugger went up to the plate looking for a first-pitch fastball and he didn’t miss it, clobbering a 408-foot (106.1-mph EV) two-run shot.
Kerry Carpenter tacked on an RBI single in the third inning that made it 3-0, and the Tigers’ pitching staff made sure that it was enough to hold up. As a team, the Tigers scratched out just five hits in the contest, with Torkelson (2-for-3) the only player with multiple hits.
Kenta Maeda Stymies Angels
Mason Englert got the call to work as an opener for the Tigers in this one and he responded by striking out a pair of batters over two scoreless innings before turning the ball over to Kenta Maeda.
The 36-year-old right-hander scattered four hits and a pair of walks over 4 2/3 innings while allowing only a pair of unearned runs to score against him. He punched out five batters on the night. The only scoring by the Halos came on a two-out, two-run blast by Mickey Moniak in the sixth inning after Logan O’Hoppe had reached on a throwing error by shortstop Trey Sweeney.
From there, Beau Brieske came on and dazzled for 1 2/3 innings, recording a pair of strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Jason Foley then came on and worked a dominant ninth inning – retiring the Angels in order including strikeouts of Matt Thaiss and Jo Adell to end it. Foley picked up his 19th save of the season for his efforts.
News and Notes
Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch confirmed that Casey Mize (hamstring) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start against the Red Sox on Friday.
Parker Meadows received a well-deserved planned day off on Wednesday and will return to his usual perk atop the Tigers’ lineup for Thursday’s series finale.
Javier Baez will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hip.
Wenceel Perez (oblique) is progressing in his recovery and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo next week.
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