Detroit’s playoff pursuit intensified in San Francisco as Jackson Jobe’s dominant return and Max Clark’s all-around brilliance fueled a relentless eight-run rout of the reeling Giants.
A gritty seventh inning blew the doors off the stadium in San Francisco, with Detroit rocking the Giants for six runs in the inning en route to an 8-0 shutout victory — the Tigers’ 13th shutout of the season.
Detroit moved within 2.5 games of the division lead and could be as close as two games behind the Chicago White Sox if the Cleveland Guardians lose Saturday night. Detroit also remains just 2.0 games back of the final wild-card spot after the Texas Rangers already won Saturday.
The Tigers improved to 57-60 on the season, and with 45 games remaining, every game becomes more and more crucial.
With tonight’s win, Detroit had plenty of players worth talking about, but three stood out as the stars of the game.
3rd Star — Spencer Torkelson
Torkelson singled in the second inning, but it was not your everyday single.
A tapper down the first-base line looked foul but may have hit a rock and bounced back into fair territory. The pitcher was able to get to the ball and flick it to first, but the Giants first baseman was unable to hold on at the bag. Torkelson was safe, pushing Colt Keith to second.
Torkelson has been finding ways to be productive for the team in ways other than Tork bombs, and for the first time, he’s starting to truly look like an all-around, top-tier first baseman.
He showed his patience in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out. Despite the Giants going to the bullpen, Torkelson drew a walk, bringing home the game’s first run.
He walked again in the ninth inning.
Torkelson finished 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI.
2nd Star — Jackson Jobe
In his season debut, Jobe pitched a gem and reminded Tigers fans everywhere why he was the third overall pick in 2021.
After 14 months since Tommy John surgery, Jobe returned with a vengeance against the same team he last pitched against before the surgery.
Jobe went five innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four. He hit 100 mph on the first strikeout of the game and showed off his Barry Zito-esque 12-6 curveball.
Jobe has returned, and he’s looking dominant.
1st Star — Max Clark
Clark had a great day at the plate and in the field, combining one of the best catches in center field with an impressive day offensively.
With the sun beaming straight into his eyes, Clark turned his back to the plate at the warning track and hauled in the catch on the run, running straight into the wall. He bounced up with a smile, proving the old saying that young bones heal faster.
At the plate, Clark benefited from an egregious error by the Giants’ left fielder, who dramatically overran what should have been a routine fly ball. Clark happily went to first, eventually helping load the bases with one out.
In the seventh inning, Clark added to Detroit’s onslaught with his first Major League triple, ripping a ball to right-center field and all the way to the wall. Clark flew out of the box like a rocket and slid into third before coming around to score Detroit’s seventh run.
The rookie finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs, one run scored and a strikeout.
Other Tigers News and Notes
Colt Keith: Keith walked in the second, fourth and sixth innings before being pinch-hit for in the seventh. He finished 0-for-0 with three walks.
Zach McKinstry: McKinstry kicked off the seventh with a hit to the right-field gap. The ball trickled to the wall and became stuck underneath the padding. McKinstry crossed the plate before being sent back to second for a ground-rule double. Two pitches later, Kevin McGonigle brought him home for a 2-0 lead. McKinstry also walked in the ninth and finished 1-for-4 with a run and a walk.
Kevin McGonigle: McGonigle poked an RBI double the opposite way, beating the shift and scoring McKinstry from second. He later came around to score on Dillon Dingler’s hit. McGonigle finished 1-for-6 with a run and an RBI.
Dillon Dingler: Dingler walked in the sixth before ripping a double in the seventh with McGonigle on second. He eventually scored Detroit’s fourth run. Dingler finished 1-for-4 with a run, RBI and walk.
Gleyber Torres: Torres walked to lead off the sixth inning and came around to score after three more walks loaded the bases. He finished 0-for-4 with a run and a walk.
Riley Greene: It was looking rough for Greene, who was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts before knocking his first hit of the game in the seventh. He eventually scored Detroit’s fifth run. Greene also walked in the ninth before being replaced by Ben Malgeri. He finished 1-for-4 with a walk, run and three strikeouts.
Eduardo Valencia: Valencia delivered a two-run pinch-hit double that beat the center fielder, who appeared to lose the ball in the wicked San Francisco sun. Dingler and Greene scored to give Detroit a 5-0 lead. Valencia finished 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs.
Javier Báez: Báez’s RBI hit in the seventh was a hard shot into the middle of the infield. The Giants shortstop made a terrific move to his left, but after a 360-degree spin, his throw went offline, allowing Clark to score and giving Detroit a 7-0 lead. Báez singled again in the ninth and finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a strikeout.
Ben Malgeri: Malgeri pinch-ran for Greene in the ninth and came around to score Detroit’s eighth run.
Bullpen: Tyler Holton relieved Jobe and tossed two innings with two strikeouts. Ty Madden closed out the game with two innings, allowing one hit while striking out one.
Game Notes
Second inning: After two Giants blunders, the Tigers had the bases loaded with one out, but the LOB bug resurfaced. Detroit stranded all three runners after two popouts ended the inning.
Sixth inning: The Long Walk wasn’t just a movie on HBO Max anymore; it was the definition of the sixth inning for Detroit. San Francisco starter Roupp had kept the Tigers at bay all game long, but the wheels fell off in the sixth as he walked the bases loaded. Torkelson then walked in a run, ending Detroit’s 12-inning scoreless streak dating back to the second inning of Friday’s game.
Seventh inning: The Tigers blew the game wide open, scoring six runs to take a 7-0 lead. Giants fans could be heard booing their team at home as Detroit took complete control.
