Weight Lifted: Three Stars From Tigers’ First Win Over Cleveland This Season

The Detroit Tigers have pulled within one game of .500 on the season, a feat that seemed almost impossible when Detroit sat 16 games back at one point this season. Now, the Tigers have a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since May 5 — 98 days ago.

The Tigers notched a huge win against division-rival Cleveland for the first time this season as well, another feat that seemed almost undoable given how the first six games went.

It was a well-earned victory that saw the Tigers battle from the beginning all the way until the very last out. Yet, Detroit held on to improve to 59-60 on the season.

With 43 games remaining, the Tigers have moved within 3.0 games of the division lead and 1.0 game of the final Wild Card spot. (The White Sox were leading in the eighth inning at the time of writing, which would push Detroit back to 3.5 games behind the division lead. The Rangers also play later tonight, and that game will impact the Tigers’ Wild Card position as well.)

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three stars who helped give Detroit its first win against Cleveland this season.

Greene was hit by a pitch right near the top of his shin guard. He fell to the ground but sprinted to first base, doing his best to run it off.

Greene then showed off his speed again, going from first to home after Spencer Torkelson blasted a double. Greene scored the first run of the game before heading to the dugout, never to be seen again.

Greene ultimately left the game after scoring and was replaced by Ben Malgeri. It was later announced that Greene was being evaluated for hamstring soreness.

Torkelson has been scorching the ball over his last 11 games, hitting .362 with one home run and eight RBIs coming into Tuesday’s game.

He continued the hot streak in the second inning, blasting a double that scored Greene and gave Detroit its first run of the night.

Torkelson also worked a walk in the eighth inning, continuing what has been an impressive stretch at the plate.

With the game tied in the bottom of the fifth inning, two outs and two runners on, McGonigle shortened up his swing and cranked a two-run double to right field that landed in foul territory by a cat’s whisker.

The hit scored both Max Clark and Javy Báez, giving Detroit a 3-1 lead. McGonigle later scored the fourth run of the game on a Gleyber Torres single.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, McGonigle was back up to do more damage.

With Zach McKinstry sitting on third, the rookie phenom lined a shot into center field, giving Detroit a 6-2 lead at the time. McGonigle advanced to second base via a balk from Cleveland but was ultimately stranded there.

Max Clark:
Clark notched his first hit at Comerica Park on Tuesday night with a double to left field. He came around to score the Tigers’ second run of the game on McGonigle’s fifth-inning double.

Javy Báez:
Báez singled to center and later came around to score on McGonigle’s double in the fifth inning.

He also walked in the seventh inning and moved to second base after a walk to McKinstry. On a double-steal attempt, the Guardians caught Báez red-handed trying to steal third, but third baseman José Ramírez dropped the throw from the catcher.

Báez not only reached third, but was able to advance all the way home, scoring Detroit’s fifth run of the game.

Gleyber Torres:
Torres followed McGonigle’s fifth-inning double with a single that plopped right in front of the center fielder, easily scoring McGonigle.

Zach McKinstry:
McKinstry walked in the seventh inning and advanced to third on a throwing error from Cleveland. He then came around to score Detroit’s sixth run on an RBI single from McGonigle.

Drew Anderson:
Anderson pitched very well, going four innings while allowing just four hits and one run. He walked two batters but struck out four as well.

The only harmful mistake came in the top of the third inning when Chase DeLauter took Anderson deep.

Anderson is new to the starting rotation and proved his worth by getting out of a couple of jams early in the game.

Bullpen:
Five pitchers combined to throw five innings while allowing two earned runs, including a home run by Jo Adell off Kyle Finnegan and another run off Kenley Jansen.

The five pitchers were:

Kenley Jansen did not make it easy.

Jansen allowed one hit, walked three batters and loaded the bases with one out. But, just like Todd Jones did many times back in the day, Jansen dangled the game right in front of Cleveland before snatching it away and locking it down.

It wasn't pretty.

But it was a win.

And for the Tigers, finally getting that first victory over Cleveland this season could be exactly what they needed as they continue their push toward .500 and the postseason.