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Reinstated Tigers starter Framber Valdez grounds Mets, fails to complete rescue attempt originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Tigers' relief corps needed help.
The starting staff had been providing little assistance since ace Tarik Skubal succumbed to an elbow injury May 4. Entering Wednesday's matchup against the New York Mets at Citi Field, the starters posted a combined 6.86 earned-run average during their past seven outings.
During that span, the starters lasted an average of 2.81 innings and walked six batters, a major reason the Tigers won once during those seven outings.
And why they needed Framber Valdez to come to their rescue.
The Tigers' reinstated starter tried, posting a quality start Wednesday, but the bullpen allowed a 2-1 lead to slip away one pitch after Valdez was pulled with two outs in the sixth inning.
The Mets completed the rally as rookie A.J. Ewing scored the winning run in the 10th inning, securing a 3-2 win.
Framber Valdez provides Tigers with quality start
The Mets opened the series Tuesday by taking advantage of Jack Flaherty's wildness and Ewing's historic MLB debut, earning a 10-2 victory.
Toiling to protect an early 2-0 advantage, Flaherty struggled through a 36-pitch second inning. He was out of the game by the fourth -- again. In four of his past five starts, the Tigers' No. 3 starter failed to open the fifth inning.
Valdez on Wednesday returned from a five-game suspension for hitting Boston Red Sox infielder Trevor Story on May 5. The Tigers' injury-riddled rotation needed a lift, with Casey Mize and Justin Verlander also shelved during the skid.
After yielding three homers in his previous start, Valdez remained focused on getting ahead in the count with his sinker and inducing a series of ground balls.
In 6.2 innings, Valdez surrendered two earned runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking two. He released a season-high 106 pitches and induced 10 grounders on the first 22 batters he faced.
Despite Valdez's rescue attempt, the Tigers fell to an MLB-worst 7-18 on the road.
Mize remains slated to come off the injured list Friday.
Is more help on the way?
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