Detroit Tigers score: Will Vest gave up two runs in the ninth inning to waste a clutch Spencer Torkelson homer for the Tigers in the seventh.
The Detroit Tigers needed a big swing in a key moment to regain the momentum of their winning ways, especially with the American League Central slipping away.
That finally happened.
Spencer Torkelson should've saved the Tigers with a two-run home run in the seventh inning, but two Tigers relievers afterward allowed three runs over the final two innings. The result: A 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, Sept. 20, in the second of three games in the series at Comerica Park. Right-handed reliever Will Vest gave up two runs in the ninth inning, including the game-tying run with two outs and two strikes.
The Tigers have lost five games in a row.
The Tigers (85-70) and Braves (72-83) wrap up the three-game series in the finale at 1:40 p.m. Sunday (FanDuel Sports Network Detroit), with the Braves riding a seven-game winning streak.
After Saturday's loss, the Tigers hold a two-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central with seven games remaining, including three games against the Guardians. The Guardians still have to complete both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins.
Not only have the Tigers dropped five games in a row, but they've lost eight of nine — with just seven wins in their past 24 games.
In the seventh inning, the Braves summoned right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson from the bullpen to face Torkelson with a runner on first base and two outs.
Torkelson battled for seven pitches.
On the seventh pitch, Torkelson pulled Johnson's middle-in curveball for a two-run home run to left field, doing damage in a full count. He hit the ball 436 feet with a 104.3 mph exit velocity.
It was Torkelson's 31st home run in his 149th game.
The Tigers had to protect a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth inning.
Manager A.J. Hinch turned to Vest as the fifth reliever used by the Tigers, only for the right-hander to allow back-to-back singles to Ozzie Albies and Ha-Seong Kim.
Vest couldn't escape the mess.
He struck out Michael Harris II and Sandy León, but with two strikes and two outs, Nacho Alvarez Jr. produced an RBI single to right field off Vest's up-and-away fastball for a 5-5 tie. An ensuing RBI single from Jurickson Profar off Vest's slider put the Braves ahead, 6-5.
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Gleyber Torres: 1,000 hits
The Tigers scored first in Saturday's game, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Torkelson's single off left-hander (and former teammate) Joey Wentz. To set up the run, Gleyber Torres singled and advanced on a wild pitch.
It was Torres' 999th hit of his eight-year MLB career.
Torres collected hit No. 1,000 in the third inning, sending Wentz's two-strike curveball at the bottom of the strike zone into center for a single. He has played 1,027 games in the big leagues.
The milestone single from Torres allowed Jahmai Jones to advance to third base, which paid off when Wenceel Pérez followed with a sacrifice fly — cutting the Tigers' deficit to 3-2.
Torres collected his third hit (and third single) of the game in the fifth, as the Tigers loaded the bases against Wentz. But with two outs, Riley Greene flew out to end the inning.
Torres finished 3-for-5 with three singles.
The Tigers tied the game, 3-3, in the sixth inning.
Zach McKinstry, pinch-hitting for Andy Ibáñez, hit an opposite-field solo home run off right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton, who replaced Wentz for the sixth inning.
Before departing, Wentz — who pitched for the Tigers from 2022-24 — allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across five innings, throwing 84 pitches. The 27-year-old owns a 5.46 ERA in 38 games (12 starts).
A.J. Hinch wastes no time
Right-hander Keider Montero allowed three runs on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts across three innings, throwing 84 pitches. The Braves scored all three runs in the third inning, thanks to home runs from Alvarez and Drake Baldwin.
He worked ahead 0-2 in the count to Ronald Acuña Jr. with two outs in the third inning before walking him on seven pitches. He then worked ahead 0-2 in the count to Baldwin before surrendering a two-run home run on a seventh-pitch curveball below the strike zone.
That homer put the Braves ahead, 3-1.
Hinch didn't let Montero continue pitching, replacing him with right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle for the fourth inning. The Tigers completed the final six innings with five relievers.
Hinch managed the bullpen aggressively.
It was like a Game 7 situation.
The five relievers: Kahnle for 1⅔ innings, left-hander Tyler Holton for one inning, right-hander Troy Melton for 1⅓ innings, right-hander Kyle Finnegan for one inning, Vest for two outs and Rafael Montero to close out the ninth.
Finnegan, in his first game back since coming off the injured list, allowed a solo home run for Alvarez in the eighth inning, cutting the Tigers' lead to 5-4. The run was the first allowed by Finnegan since joining the Tigers at the July 31 trade deadline. He bounced back after a two-out walk by stranding the runner on second to end the eighth.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lose 5th straight, 6-5, to Atlanta Braves
Category: Baseball
