The Arizona Diamondbacks wanted to make their 2026 MLB season home opener one that their fans would remember. They did just that as the D-backs defeated the Detroit Tigers 9-6 at Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix.

What made the game even more special was that Detroit started Justin Verlander to face the D-backs. Verlander returned this season to where his MLB career started. He obviously wanted to have a great start in his return as a Tiger in his first start.

Well, Verlander really didn't have a great outing. Arizona scored two runs in the first inning and three more in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Verlander lasted 3 2/3 innings for Detroit, giving up six hits, five runs (all earned), walking two, and striking out one.

As for D-backs starter Michael Soroka, he was lights-out for five innings. Soroka struck out 10 Tigers batters, giving up four hits and no runs. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo used seven pitchers total against the Tigers. Paul Sewald worked a clean ninth inning for his first save.

Oh, what about Corbin Carroll? Well, he had himself quite a day for the D-backs. Carroll had a first-inning triple and a second-inning, three-run home run to give the Arizona bats a jolt. 

The D-backs were up 8-0 entering the seventh inning. But that's when D-backs pitcher Joe Ross just didn't have it together at all. Ross gave up all six Tigers runs in that seventh inning, working just two-thirds of it. He gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out one. After that outing. Ross' ERA is now 32.40.

After Verlander was pulled in the fourth inning, the Tigers brought on Emmanuel De Jesus. He didn't do much better, allowing three hits, three runs (all earned), walking two, and striking out one.

The Monday win put the D-backs in the win column for the first time this season. They'll look to make it two wins in a row as the D-backs and Tigers pick up their series on Tuesday at 8:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. MT). 

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