Tigers' only hits are two homers in loss to Guardians in opener
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The Detroit Tigers managed only two hits in their season opener against the Cleveland Guardians, both home runs by Spencer Torkelson and James Outman, but it wasn't enough to avoid a loss. The stark stat underscores how anemic the Tigers' offense looked, unable to manufacture runs through conventional means. Torkelson and Outman's solo shots provided the team's only offensive highlights in what amounted to a dominant pitching performance by Cleveland.
Cleveland, The same team that slugged six home runs and scored 11 runs Thursday at Comerica Park, managed only two solo shots and nothing else Friday at Progressive Field.
The Cleveland Guardians won their fifth straight game against the Tigers this season, winning the first of a three-game weekend set, 3-2.
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And in the process, might have lost the services of pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Just as Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize are returning to the Tigers’ rotation, Flaherty left the game Friday night after the third inning for what the Tigers called left leg discomfort.
He was at 63 pitches and endured a 30-pitch, two-run second inning. Catcher Patrick Bailey, hitting .154 at the time, laced a two-out, two-strike RBI single and then scored on triple by No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio.
First Tiger AB is a HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/x1s7tH45AQ
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Flaherty, who changed his cleats between innings, set the Guardians down in order on 14 pitches in the third inning. On the final out, he twisted his body to field a high chopper hit by Kyle Manzardo. He stumbled but righted himself enough to throw Manzardo out at first.
He went immediately down the tunnel and to the clubhouse for evaluation. The Tigers later said the discomfort was unrelated to the final play of the third inning.
His sudden departure forced the Tigers to deploy four relievers to get through the rest of the game. Sub-optimal in the first game of a series and the first game of a six-game road trip with no off day.
“We get it,” manager AJ Hinch said before the game. “We’re not naïve. We also understand whatever happens tonight, there’s going to be another game tomorrow, either to help us win the series or get us back in the series.”
Right-hander Jacob Waguespack, just called up from Triple-A Toledo before the game, and lefty Drew Sommers each pitched a scoreless inning. But the Guardians tacked on the third run against Drew Anderson in the sixth on an RBI single by Steven Kwan.
BOX SCORE: Guardians 3, Tigers 2
Ty Madden pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings, striking out the side in the eighth.
The pitchers held the fort. The hitters couldn’t break through.
The Guardians, as they did last month at Comerica Park, outplayed the Tigers in all facets. Defensively, they were nearly flawless.
Rocchio made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch, running into left field, to steal a single from Colt Keith. Right-fielder Chase DeLauter made a diving catch on a soft, slicing lining by Dillon Dingler. Second baseman Travis Bazzana made a diving play going to his left to take a hit away from Riley Greene.
And, after the one defensive mistake they did make, a throwing error on first baseman Rhys Hoskins, starting pitcher Tanner Bibee picked Zach McKinstry off first. It was the third time McKinstry has been picked off a base this year.
The Tigers, meanwhile, produced four hard-hit balls against Bibee in his seven-plus innings. Both left the yard.
James Outman, whom the Tigers claimed off waivers from the Twins Thursday, hit a 418-foot home run to right-center in his first at-bat as a Tiger. He came in hitting .156 and hadn’t homers since last September.
Outman, who the Tigers got primarily to shore up the defense in the outfield, made a diving catch in the second inning which, at the time, looked like it would save a run.
After Bibee retired 15 straight (including the pickoff of McKinstry), his night ended on a 416-foot home run to center field by Spencer Torkelson, his 11th.
Bibee got two quick strikes but Torkelson worked the count full before detonating a middle-cut sinker.
The Tigers came within a few feet of tying the game in the eighth, too. Rookie Kevin McGonigle lined a 92-mph slider from reliever Hunter Gaddis to wall in right center, tracked and caught by DeLauter.
Closer Cade Smith pitched a clean ninth for the save.
This story will be updated.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers lost opener of three-game series against Cleveland