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The Detroit Tigers cooled off the hottest team in baseball on Monday night on a windy night in Comerica Park, not completely − the San Diego Padres are too good for that − but just enough in a 6-4 victory.
The Padres (16-7) had arrived in Detroit for this three-game series with the best record in baseball and a plus-35 run differential, having won seven of their last 10 games.
But the Tigers held San Diego to seven hits, which is no small feat. The Padres were leading the league with 13 games with 10 or more hits. But the Tigers slowed them down and took an early lead – a key against the Padres because they have such a good bullpen.
“They have a great system,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. “As dominant as any bullpen in baseball and they know how to win games on the bases. They are as aggressive base running team as any in the sport.”
Scary? Of course. But the Tigers scored two runs in each of the first three innings, taking a 6-2 lead.
“They have tremendous players,” Hinch said. “Their bullpen is really talented and really productive.”
The Padres' bullpen has been outstanding this season, ranking first in opponents' batting average (.167) and ERA (1.57) and second in saves (10) and wins (six).
The Tigers didn't score against that bullpen. But didn't need to after putting up six against starter Randy Vasquez.
For the second time in less than two weeks, Hinch started Keider Montero, which allowed him to give the rest of his starting rotation an extra day of rest.
"We're trying to win every series and we're doing it with our strength, which has been starting pitching," Hinch said.
Montero took a 6-2 lead into the fifth inning, but Gavin Sheets lifted a high fly ball to left field, which was carried out by a strong wind blowing out to left. Riley Greene tried to rob it at the fence, but the ball rode the wind, just out of his reach.
After a single and a walk, Montero was taken out of the game with one out in the fifth. Montero was not great but gave the Tigers a chance to win this game, while helping the Tigers in the long term.
“I like where our starters are at now,” Hinch said. “I like the performance. I like how they're recovering. I like how they're responding to the extra rest.””
Montero threw 4 1/3 innings, allowed four runs, three of them earned. He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes.
More: Kerry Carpenter injury update: Detroit Tigers get good news about outfielders hamstring
After Ryan Kreidler was sent down to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Jace Jung was brought up and started at third and Javier Baez got the start in center field on a night the wind was swirling around Comerica Park. Before the game, flags on the field were blowing in, while the one in center was blowing out.
Then, of course, the ball found both of them immediately. You could almost see Jung learn during the game. In the fourth inning, he decided not to go for a slow grounder and cut in front of shortstop Trey Sweeney, who couldn’t throw out Oscar Gonzalez.
But Jung learned from it. On the very next play, Jung cut off a similar grounder and threw out Jose Iglesias.
“He adds another left-handed bat,” Hinch said. “He can put up a really good at bat.”
More: Detroit Tigers call up Jace Jung, Javier Báez takes over in center field for Ryan Kreidler
The Padres played without Luis Arraez, who was placed on the 7-day injured list and entered into the concussion protocol. He was injured in a collision on Sunday against the Houston Astros.
“They are not in a great place, health wise,” Hinch said Monday before the game. “I do hope that Arráez is okay. That was as scary as it gets.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers score: San Diego Padres can't match 11 hits in 6-4 win
Continue reading...
The Padres (16-7) had arrived in Detroit for this three-game series with the best record in baseball and a plus-35 run differential, having won seven of their last 10 games.
But the Tigers held San Diego to seven hits, which is no small feat. The Padres were leading the league with 13 games with 10 or more hits. But the Tigers slowed them down and took an early lead – a key against the Padres because they have such a good bullpen.
“They have a great system,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. “As dominant as any bullpen in baseball and they know how to win games on the bases. They are as aggressive base running team as any in the sport.”
Scary? Of course. But the Tigers scored two runs in each of the first three innings, taking a 6-2 lead.
“They have tremendous players,” Hinch said. “Their bullpen is really talented and really productive.”
The Padres' bullpen has been outstanding this season, ranking first in opponents' batting average (.167) and ERA (1.57) and second in saves (10) and wins (six).
The Tigers didn't score against that bullpen. But didn't need to after putting up six against starter Randy Vasquez.
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Playing the long game in short term
For the second time in less than two weeks, Hinch started Keider Montero, which allowed him to give the rest of his starting rotation an extra day of rest.
"We're trying to win every series and we're doing it with our strength, which has been starting pitching," Hinch said.
Montero took a 6-2 lead into the fifth inning, but Gavin Sheets lifted a high fly ball to left field, which was carried out by a strong wind blowing out to left. Riley Greene tried to rob it at the fence, but the ball rode the wind, just out of his reach.
After a single and a walk, Montero was taken out of the game with one out in the fifth. Montero was not great but gave the Tigers a chance to win this game, while helping the Tigers in the long term.
“I like where our starters are at now,” Hinch said. “I like the performance. I like how they're recovering. I like how they're responding to the extra rest.””
Montero threw 4 1/3 innings, allowed four runs, three of them earned. He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes.
More: Kerry Carpenter injury update: Detroit Tigers get good news about outfielders hamstring
Changes at third and center
After Ryan Kreidler was sent down to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Jace Jung was brought up and started at third and Javier Baez got the start in center field on a night the wind was swirling around Comerica Park. Before the game, flags on the field were blowing in, while the one in center was blowing out.
Then, of course, the ball found both of them immediately. You could almost see Jung learn during the game. In the fourth inning, he decided not to go for a slow grounder and cut in front of shortstop Trey Sweeney, who couldn’t throw out Oscar Gonzalez.
But Jung learned from it. On the very next play, Jung cut off a similar grounder and threw out Jose Iglesias.
“He adds another left-handed bat,” Hinch said. “He can put up a really good at bat.”
More: Detroit Tigers call up Jace Jung, Javier Báez takes over in center field for Ryan Kreidler
San Diego short-handed too
The Padres played without Luis Arraez, who was placed on the 7-day injured list and entered into the concussion protocol. He was injured in a collision on Sunday against the Houston Astros.
“They are not in a great place, health wise,” Hinch said Monday before the game. “I do hope that Arráez is okay. That was as scary as it gets.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers score: San Diego Padres can't match 11 hits in 6-4 win
Continue reading...
