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Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said his team had to play clean baseball to beat the St. Louis Cardinals. Make the plays that were there. Don’t make sloppy mistakes.
But they didn’t do either on Sunday, April 5, as the Cardinals beat the Tigers, 5-3, on a cold, windy night at Comerica Park.
In the fourth inning alone, the Tigers walked a batter, committed a throwing error and failed to make a couple of plays they should have made – like turning a double play and fielding a bunt – as the Cardinals put up four runs.
THE STARTER: Tigers created starting depth but didn't think they would need it like this
After the Tigers cut the lead to 4-3, the Tigers got into trouble in the top of the eighth with a different kind of sloppiness: the Cardinals scored on a couple of walks and a sacrifice fly.
That was all St. Louis needed to win the finale of this three-game series, preventing a Tigers' sweep.
The Tigers (4-4) now go back on the road for a four-game series at the Minnesota Twins. If it feels as if the Tigers have played almost all their games on the road, it’s because they have. They will play 10 of their first 13 games on the road this season, their most road-heavy stretch to start a season since 2007.
Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander saw Keider Montero in the Tigers clubhouse on Sunday afternoon and gave him a hug.
“Thank you,” Verlander said.
Verlander was put on the 15-day injured list on Saturday and Montero was called up from Triple-A Toledo to start on Sunday, replacing the Tigers legend in the rotation.
THE WOULD-BE STARTER: When can Justin Verlander return from injured list?
Montero got through the first three innings without much of a problem, giving up just one hit. But he got into trouble in the fifth, although not all of it was his fault. Nolan Gorman singled to right field – a ball that bounced off Spencer Torkelson’s glove at first base.
Then, Montero walked Thomas Saggese.
Two guys on. No outs.
Nathan Church hit a grounder to Gleyber Torres, which looked like an easy double-play ball, but the feed was uncharacteristically off-target, so Javier Báez had to tag the runner.
Then, Pedro Pagés hit a soft line drive into left field, which was the end of the day for Montero. He gave up three runs (two of them earned) off three hits in 4⅓ innings, striking out three with a walk.
The Tigers had a great opportunity in the sixth inning.
Spencer Torkelson was up with runners on second and third with no outs.
Facing George Soriano, Torkelson felt behind 0-2 and then worked a walk. Báez hit a rifle to right, which turned into a sacrifice fly, scoring Dillon Dingler.
The Cardinals brought in lefty JoJo Romero, which allowed Hinch to counter with right-handed specialist Jahmai Jones. Finally. He had been sitting for days because Arizona didn’t have any lefties in their bullpen. He got on base on a fielder’s choice.
After a Kevin McGonigle walk, Torres grounded out.
FOR OPENERS: Detroit Tigers 2026 home opener has playoff feel, perfect finish
Hinch saw a worrisome trend with Kerry Carpenter early in the season.
Carpenter didn’t look like himself. He was swinging at bad pitches and struggling through a .063 stretch.
Yes, it was a small sample size. But he just didn’t look right.
Hinch decided to move Carpenter out of the leadoff spot, dropping him to No. 5 in the batting order.
“I wanted to ease off Kerry a little bit,” Hinch said after making the change. “He seems to be swinging more and more, which is out of his norm. I mean, he can be a little bit more disciplined. I'll get him back at the top at some point.”
And the results have been immediate.
He went 1-3 against the Diamondbacks in that game. Hinch moved Carpenter to No. 3 in the order against the Cardinals on April 3, and he went 2-for-3.
Carpenter hit cleanup the next day, hitting a homer against the Cardinals on Saturday.
And he hit No. 3 again on Sunday, with another homer, a 425-footer to center off right-handed starter Kyle Leahy.
OH, THAT BULLPEN: Enmanuel De Jesus gives Tigers sweet surprise in first start of spring
Enmanuel De Jesus, a lefty, relieved Montero in the fifth inning.
There was some bad: He had a throwing error on a bunt.
But there was plenty of good: He retired seven consecutive batters.
De Jesus gave up one earned run in 2⅔ innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sloppy gloves costly in 5-3 loss to St. Louis Cardinals
Continue reading...
But they didn’t do either on Sunday, April 5, as the Cardinals beat the Tigers, 5-3, on a cold, windy night at Comerica Park.
In the fourth inning alone, the Tigers walked a batter, committed a throwing error and failed to make a couple of plays they should have made – like turning a double play and fielding a bunt – as the Cardinals put up four runs.
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THE STARTER: Tigers created starting depth but didn't think they would need it like this
After the Tigers cut the lead to 4-3, the Tigers got into trouble in the top of the eighth with a different kind of sloppiness: the Cardinals scored on a couple of walks and a sacrifice fly.
That was all St. Louis needed to win the finale of this three-game series, preventing a Tigers' sweep.
Next up for the Tigers
The Tigers (4-4) now go back on the road for a four-game series at the Minnesota Twins. If it feels as if the Tigers have played almost all their games on the road, it’s because they have. They will play 10 of their first 13 games on the road this season, their most road-heavy stretch to start a season since 2007.
Rushing into duty
Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander saw Keider Montero in the Tigers clubhouse on Sunday afternoon and gave him a hug.
“Thank you,” Verlander said.
Verlander was put on the 15-day injured list on Saturday and Montero was called up from Triple-A Toledo to start on Sunday, replacing the Tigers legend in the rotation.
You must be registered for see images attach
THE WOULD-BE STARTER: When can Justin Verlander return from injured list?
Montero got through the first three innings without much of a problem, giving up just one hit. But he got into trouble in the fifth, although not all of it was his fault. Nolan Gorman singled to right field – a ball that bounced off Spencer Torkelson’s glove at first base.
Then, Montero walked Thomas Saggese.
Two guys on. No outs.
Nathan Church hit a grounder to Gleyber Torres, which looked like an easy double-play ball, but the feed was uncharacteristically off-target, so Javier Báez had to tag the runner.
Then, Pedro Pagés hit a soft line drive into left field, which was the end of the day for Montero. He gave up three runs (two of them earned) off three hits in 4⅓ innings, striking out three with a walk.
Tigers had chances
You must be registered for see images attach
The Tigers had a great opportunity in the sixth inning.
Spencer Torkelson was up with runners on second and third with no outs.
Facing George Soriano, Torkelson felt behind 0-2 and then worked a walk. Báez hit a rifle to right, which turned into a sacrifice fly, scoring Dillon Dingler.
The Cardinals brought in lefty JoJo Romero, which allowed Hinch to counter with right-handed specialist Jahmai Jones. Finally. He had been sitting for days because Arizona didn’t have any lefties in their bullpen. He got on base on a fielder’s choice.
After a Kevin McGonigle walk, Torres grounded out.
FOR OPENERS: Detroit Tigers 2026 home opener has playoff feel, perfect finish
Kerry Carpenter hot as heck
Hinch saw a worrisome trend with Kerry Carpenter early in the season.
Carpenter didn’t look like himself. He was swinging at bad pitches and struggling through a .063 stretch.
Yes, it was a small sample size. But he just didn’t look right.
Hinch decided to move Carpenter out of the leadoff spot, dropping him to No. 5 in the batting order.
“I wanted to ease off Kerry a little bit,” Hinch said after making the change. “He seems to be swinging more and more, which is out of his norm. I mean, he can be a little bit more disciplined. I'll get him back at the top at some point.”
And the results have been immediate.
He went 1-3 against the Diamondbacks in that game. Hinch moved Carpenter to No. 3 in the order against the Cardinals on April 3, and he went 2-for-3.
Carpenter hit cleanup the next day, hitting a homer against the Cardinals on Saturday.
And he hit No. 3 again on Sunday, with another homer, a 425-footer to center off right-handed starter Kyle Leahy.
OH, THAT BULLPEN: Enmanuel De Jesus gives Tigers sweet surprise in first start of spring
De Jesus' fine performance
Enmanuel De Jesus, a lefty, relieved Montero in the fifth inning.
There was some bad: He had a throwing error on a bunt.
But there was plenty of good: He retired seven consecutive batters.
De Jesus gave up one earned run in 2⅔ innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sloppy gloves costly in 5-3 loss to St. Louis Cardinals
Continue reading...
