Verlander shined, but Tigers bats faltered, forcing a spring training tie despite festive St. Paddy's caps.
After back-to-back offensive explosions against the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers went quiet Tuesday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, managing just a single run in a 1-1 spring training tie with the Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers did it in style, though, breaking out their St. Patrick's Day caps for the occasion, continuing a spring training tradition the club has maintained for years.
The Detroit lineup produced six hits but could not manufacture runs against Baltimore pitching. The offense had put up 12 runs against the Yankees and 13 against the Phillies on Monday, but Tuesday felt like a hard reset.
T Justin Verlander turned in arguably his best spring outing of the young exhibition season, working 4.2 innings on 76 pitches with 51 strikes and punching out six batters. The slider looked sharp, generating a 33% whiff rate, and the changeup was even more effective in limited usage, drawing whiffs on 67% of offerings. The fastball held at 93.9 mph and produced a 28% whiff rate at 58% usage. A 29% overall whiff rate on the day, as all of his pitches played up well.
The game's lone scoring came from unlikely sources on each side. Bryan Ramos put Baltimore in front with a solo home run to left center off Verlander in the fifth, one of two extra-base hits on the day for the Orioles third baseman. That 1-0 lead held until the eighth, when Detroit's offense finally scratched across its only run without the benefit of a hit. Max Clark drew a walk, advanced to third on a Jace Jung groundout and a passed ball charged to Samuel Basallo, then came home on a Jose Espada wild pitch to tie the game. It was that kind of afternoon for the Tigers bats.
Detroit had its best chance to win it in the ninth, loading the bases with one out on a Peyton Graham walk, an Austin Slater single, and a Max Burt walk. Corey Julks came up with the game on the line and grounded into an inning-ending double play, Fernando Peguero to Basallo to Anderson De Los Santos, ending the threat and the game at 1-1.
Kenley Jansen worked the sixth and escaped a one-out jam, stranding runners at first and second after getting Heston Kjerstad on a called strikeout with a reviewed pitch that was confirmed. Jorger Petri, Joe Glassey, Rico Garcia, and Espada cycled through the late innings as Detroit worked its bullpen depth.
Kevin McGonigle gave the crowd something to talk about with a highlight-reel play at third base, showcasing the arm strength that has been one of his calling cards this spring, looking much more comfortable on the left side of the infield.
McGonigle also picked up a stolen base in the fourth inning before shifting to shortstop late as the defensive alignment changed with roster shuffling.
The Tigers head to Brandton on Wednesday to take on the Pirates before the off-day on Thursday.
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