Torkelson Silences Critics While Tigers Battle More Injury Trouble in 4-0 Win
On the exact same day I posted an article diving into Spencer Torkelson’s stats and questioning whether he should remain a Tiger , the former No. 1 overall pick launched a blistering rocket into orbit to help secure Detroit ’s second win in three games.
Still, not everything was positive Wednesday night.
Starter Casey Mize was dealing through four innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out six, but he exited after the fourth inning with right groin tightness. Hopefully, he caught it early and it’s something that can be worked through quickly, because Mize already spent time on the injured list and the Tigers simply can’t afford any more injuries.
Unfortunately, Mize wasn’t the only pitcher forced to leave early.
Newcomer Kenley Jansen , who has struggled mightily since arriving in Detroit, was removed from the game with two outs in the ninth inning due to injury. We’ll continue to monitor that situation, but the Tigers must somehow keep dodging the injury grenades exploding around them with what feels like every step.
Coming into Wednesday, the Tigers had been on one of the coldest stretches they’ve seen in quite some time. Frustrations were boiling over, fans were giving up, and talking heads were ready to blow everything up. For the most part, Detroit wasn’t getting blown out — they were losing games by collapsing late.
In 23 save chances, the Tigers had blown 13 of them while converting just 10. Kyle Finnegan (3), Will Vest (3), and Kenley Jansen (5) combined for those 13 blown saves — 13 games Detroit had a chance to win and let slip away. That changes the entire outlook of a season, but sports aren’t played in a world of “ifs” and “buts.” They’re played in reality, and the reality is the Tigers couldn’t close down a Cracker Barrel.
Wednesday night had all the makings of the exact same story.
Jansen allowed a runner to reach first before exiting with the injury, forcing Brian Hanifee into a pressure-packed situation. After a five-pitch walk, the Angels suddenly had two runners on with two outs, and you could almost feel every Tigers fan collectively roll their eyes.
“Here we go again.”
That feeling echoed throughout Downtown Detroit.
But then came the final out.
A hard ground ball was hit to Torkelson, who calmly gobbled it up before firing a laser to Hanifee , who sprinted to first base to record the final out and seal the Tigers’ second win in three games.
Detroit had to manufacture runs however it could, and it started with one of the hottest hitters on the roster.
Dillon Dingler got the scoring started with an RBI single that brought home Colt Keith . Dingler was eventually thrown out trying to stretch the hit, but the damage had already been done as Detroit grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Then came Torkelson.
In the second inning, Torkelson blasted his eighth home run of the season. He also added two doubles, giving him 12 on the year, and finished the night 3-for-4 with three extra-base hits while silencing critics — myself included.
In the bottom of the fifth, Riley Greene ripped a single that led to a throwing error from the Angels’ right fielder, allowing McGonigle to cross the plate for another insurance run.
Detroit added one more in the seventh when McGonigle scored again on an errant throw, this time from the pitcher, extending the lead to 4-0.
Surprisingly, that lead held firm until the final out as the Tigers tied the series with Los Angeles ahead of Thursday afternoon’s rubber match.
