The Detroit Tigers defeated the Texas Rangers 7-1, utilizing a pitching strategy with six relievers due to Casey Mize's injury. Spencer Torkelson's performance contributed significantly to the win.
It was Casey Mizeâs start day, but with him on the injured list with a groin strain, the Tigers dusted off the pitching chaos strategy that helped them storm into the postseason two years ago.
Itâs not always popular with the fan base and it may have lost some of its luster last season, but it was executed to near perfection Sunday as the Tigers beat the Texas Rangers, 7-1, in front of 24,083 at Comerica Park in the rubber match of the three-game series.
Manager AJ Hinch deployed six different relievers to cover the nine innings. And as the game played out, the method to his strategic madness started to unfold.
He targeted the Rangersâ two most-productive left-handed hitters â leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo and No. 3 hitter Corey Seager â hoping to match them up with left-handed pitchers as many times through the order as he could.
Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts with Riley Greene after Torkelsonâs two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts with Riley Greene after Torkelsonâs two-run home run in the fifth inning.
And thatâs what happened. Nimmo and Seager faced lefties their first three times through â Tyler Holton in the first inning and the next two times. They were a combined 1-for-6 in those at-bats.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Tigers vs Rangers game?
The final score was 7-1 in favor of the Detroit Tigers.
Why did the Tigers use a pitching chaos strategy against the Rangers?
The Tigers implemented the pitching chaos strategy due to Casey Mize being on the injured list with a groin strain.
Who was the standout player in the Tigers' win over the Rangers?
Spencer Torkelson had a notable performance that contributed to the Tigers' victory.
How many relievers did the Tigers use in the game against the Rangers?
The Tigers used six different relievers to cover the nine innings of the game.
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It wasnât perfect. Duran doubled off Vanasco in the seventh and after advancing on a wild pitch, scored on a ground out.
But it ended up as effective as a quality start â seven innings, one run, five hits, six strikeouts and two walks.
Hurter soldiered the heaviest load. He covered 3â scoreless innings allowing just two hits. The last pitch he threw induced a 3-6-3 double play from Seager in the sixth inning.
In 18 innings this season, Hurter has allowed just three earned runs.
Vanasco, in his season debut, struck out two in 1â innings.
The Tigersâ hitters, meanwhile, took a few innings to crack the code against Rangers starter Jack Leiter. There was no prior indication he would or could be as dominant and he was through the first four innings.
In his four previous starts, heâd allowed 15 earned runs in 20â innings with five home runs. His fastball velocity in those starts was between 95 and 96 mph.
He was a very different pitcher early on Sunday. He was burning the edges with 97- and 98-mph four-seamers and sinkers and stealing strikes with curveballs and sliders. The Tigersâ lefties would see 93-mph changeups, as well.
In the fifth inning, his velocity dipped back to his norms and he started to miss his spots. In other words, he became more human.
After walking Greene on four pitches, Leiter hung a slider to Torkelson. That ball left the bat at 102 mph and sailed over the Tigersâ bullpen and into the first row of seats in left field. It was Torkelsonâs sixth homer.
In the sixth, Jake Rogers was awarded a triple on a sinker liner to center that Evan Carter dived for but missed. The ball rolled to the track.
Rookie Kevin McGonigle brought Rogers home with a pull-side single to right.
The Tigers broke the game open with four runs in the seventh, chasing Leiter and tacking on a couple of softly-struck RBI knocks against former Tiger Tyler Alexander.
Hao-Yu Lee ended Leiterâs night with a two-out RBI single. After Rogers blooped a single, McGonigle delivered his second RBI hit and Vierling looped a two-run double.
Thus, the Tigers bullpen was able to bridge the game to Kyle Finnegan and Burch Smith in the eighth and ninth innings with a six-run lead. Good work if you can get it.
The Tigers (18-17) improve to 12-3 at home and have won all five of their series at Comerica.
This is a developing story. Come back soon to detroitnews.com for more on this game.
