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Detroit Tigers steal 3-2 win from New York Yankees in Little League Classic in 10 innings
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- Detroit Tigers steal 3-2 win from New York Yankees in Little League Classic in 10 innings
The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees battled into extra innings Sunday night in the MLB Little League Classic.
It ended in the 10th.
The Tigers won, 3-2, over the Yankees — scoring all three runs in the final two innings — at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Parker Meadows hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th.
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Left-hander Tarik Skubal , who lowered his ERA to 2.49 in his 25th start while running away with the American League Cy Young Award, allowed one run on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts in six innings, throwing 100 pitches.
Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith (33) slides home to score against New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) in the ninth inning at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
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There were 2,532 fans in attendance for the showcase game, including a lot of Little League players in town for the Little League World Series, which ends next Sunday.
The Tigers (61-64) — winners in six of their past seven games — forced extra innings in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Jace Jung delivered an RBI single off right-handed reliever Clay Holmes with two outs.
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Before that, Colt Keith ripped a a one-out double, but Jung ultimately came through by slapping a down-and-away fastball past the diving shortstop for a ground-ball single into left field, tying the game, 1-1.
The Yankees, though, recaptured the lead, 2-1, on the first pitch of the 10th inning, when DJ LeMahieu hit right-handed reliever Beau Brieske 's middle-middle fastball for an RBI single to center, scoring the free runner in extra innings from center base.
In the bottom of the 10th, pinch-hitter Zach McKinstry delivered a RBI single on the second pitch from right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. , tying the game, 2-2.
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McKinstry then stole second base.
On the next pitch, Meadows hit an up-and-away changeup for an RBI single into left field. Left fielder Jasson Domínguez, called up to serve as the 27th player for the Yankees, hesitated before throwing, allowing McKinstry to score with an aggressive send from third-base coach Joey Cora.
The single from Meadows ended the game, 3-2.
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New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres (25) slides home to score against Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) in the sixth inning at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
A rare mistake
Gleyber Torres dashed to home plate.
A fastball from Skubal scooted past catcher Jake Rogers with two outs and a runner on third base in the sixth inning. The rare mistake from Rogers, who has caught all of Skubal's starts, allowed Torres to sprint home and score.
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The sixth inning, however, began with back-to-back walks.
Skubal walked Torres and Juan Soto , and although Aaron Judge grounded into a double play, Skubal left himself exposed with a runner on third base and two outs. The ball that got past Rogers, allowing Torres to score from third, was ruled a wild pitch by Skubal. The throw from Rogers and tag from Skubal, who covered home plate, was too late.
Just like that, the Yankees had a 1-0 lead.
Another play at the plate
The Tigers didn't get a hit until Meadows' single off right-hander Marcus Stroman in the third inning. Meadows stole second to advance into scoring position, but Riley Greene — activated from the injured list Sunday — grounded out to end the inning.
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Greene, a first-time All-Star this season, finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his return from a right hamstring strain.
A leadoff walk from Jung sparked a scoring opportunity in the fifth inning. After back-to-back strikeouts, Meadows hit a double to left-center field. On the play, Jung tried to score from first base, as directed by Cora coaching third base.
Jung was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.
It wasn't a close play.
Stroman fired six scoreless innings on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts, throwing 87 pitches.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers steal 3-2 (10) W from Yankees in Little League Classic
