It’s late night baseball time, and after the world’s most unpredictable off day, the Tigers were back in action in San Diego to face the Padres. The Tigers took a break from their bullpenning and let Keider Montero start, and the Padres relied on Yu Darvish.
The Tigers, for their part, are closing in on their third wild-card spot, so even this late in the season, every win counts. They’re running out of time, but they’re still in it and just need to get going for a few more series to be in the thick of it. Wednesday’s loss stings more than most in that regard.
The Motown Club didn’t waste any time securing a point, as Matt Vierling hit a home run with two outs to give the Tigers the first run of the game. Kerry Carpenter followed with a double, but the Tigers settled for just one run.
In the second half, Jurickson Profar managed a two-out walk but scored no runs.
Spencer Torkelson started the second with a walk, and Jace Jung followed with a single. When Yu Darvish threw a wild pitch, both baserunners were able to advance. A groundout by Dillon Dingler scored Torkelson. In the bottom half of the inning, Jake Cronenworth, who earned the title of Tiger Killer, hit a single to start the inning. Then Jackson Merrill hit a single with one out, but even with two baserunners on base, they couldn’t score.
Riley Greene worked a walk to start the third inning. A force out by Vierling eliminated Greene, but Vierling then stole second base. A single by Colt Keith brought Vierling to the point and gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead, ending Yu Darvish’s day.
The Padres finished the inning with a score of 1-2-3.
The Tigers continued to open their innings with a walk when Jace Jung took a free base from Yuki Matsui. Trey Sweeney then hit a home run.
Cronenworth remained a thorn in the side of the home team with a single after only one out. Then Xander Bogaerts managed a walk. Jackson Merrill crowned it all with a home run and suddenly the score was 5:3.
Wandy Peralta replaced Matsui and allowed a two-out single to Colt Keith. No runs scored. Heading into the second period, things got ugly right from the start. Luis Arraez hit a single, then Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a double. A single by Manny Machado then brought home Arraez and Tatis to tie the game. That was the end of the day for Montero, who finished with 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR on 71 pitches. Sean Guenther came in and walked Bogaerts, but finished the Padres without any further injuries.
The next Padres relief pitcher to pitch was Adrian Morejon. Trey Sweeney got a one-out walk and then got to second base on a passed ball, but the Tigers couldn’t bring him home. Beau Brieske came in for the bottom of the sixth inning and to say it was nerve-wracking would be an understatement. Davide Peralta got a one-out walk, then Arraez got a one-out single. Arraez was able to steal second base with two out, then Profar got a walk to load the bases. But Brieske got out of the jam and got Machado for the last out.
Tanner Scott was the latest Padres relief pitcher to be retired, and had managed to burn all of their left-handed relief pitchers. Matt Vierling managed a one-out single, but was left stranded on first base. Shelby Miller came out of the Tigers’ bullpen, and it was another thrilling outing. Bogaerts walked with one out. Then Merrill hit a ground rule double that was so well placed that the best that could have happened was a bounce, otherwise the Padres would have gotten the winning run. Donovan Solano walked, loading the bases. A force out by Mason McCoy meant Bogaerts was out at home for the second out. The Tigers again managed to get out of trouble, but it wasn’t easy (and very much reliant on luck).
Jason Adam came in as a reliever and got the Tigers right. Will Vest turned around and did the same with the Padres.
Still tied in the ninth inning, and this time it was Robert Suarez who came out of the bullpen. Riley Greene kept the game alive for the Tigers with a walk with two outs. Unfortunately, a force out ended the inning. The Padres went three-for-three down in the second half and we’re facing very, very late extras.
In the tenth inning, it was Jeremiah Estrada’s turn to pitch, and I think it’s a bold decision to switch relievers every inning when you’re in overtime. With two outs and Matt Vierling on third base after a ground out by Colt Keith, Spencer Torkelson batted for a walk. But the Tigers couldn’t score as Justyn-Henry Malloy flied to center field. Jason Foley came in for the Tigers, got a quick ground out, and then struck out Mason McCoy. Suddenly, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, but this time it was the move. Luis Arraez was intentionally forced to walk, which made sense, but Fernando Tatis Jr. got the walk on a single in his first game back from injury.
Final score: Padres 6, Tigers 5
