Detroit Tigers score: Gleyber Torres hit a three-run homer off ex-Tiger Max Scherzer and the Tigers beat the Blue Jays, 10-4, to snap a 6-game skid.
Maybe it was the new Riley Greene mustache – an attempt to change the vibe for the struggling Detroit Tigers.
Maybe it was the emotional lift that came from the return of Kerry Carpenter – he was out with a hamstring injury since June 29.
Or maybe, far more likely, it was just guys playing a heck of a lot better. More like themselves. And exhaling. The Tigers rolled to a needed win thanks to excellent pitching (until the ninth inning, at least), solid defense and a massive game from Gleyber Torres, who had 4 RBIs. The Tigers snapped out of a funk and beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-4, at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 27.
It broke a six-game losing streak for this team that had lost 12 of their last 13.
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Welcome back, Max
Former Tiger Max Scherzer turned 41 on Sunday and the birthday boy was dominant, except for one pitch to Torres.
Scherzer struck out 11 in seven innings of work and didn't walk anybody. He scattered three hits, including a Torres 3-run homer.
"He is a future Hall of Famer," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said about Scherzer before the game. "He's still pitching at a high level, so I don't want to love on him too much pregame because of the task that we have in front of us. But recognizing greatness that's right in front of you will only get sweeter over time."
Hinch has a long history with Scherzer. Hinch was the Arizona farm director when the Diamondbacks drafted Scherzer in 2006. And Scherzer actually pitched in Hinch’s first series as Arizona manager in 2009.
“I think it's always premature the first time you see someone to declare they are going to be among the baseball's greatest ever," Hinch said.
But the DNA was there – the competitiveness, the intellectual curiosity, the competitiveness.
"He was great then – he had a foundation for a career to build," Hinch said.
That's the fact, Jack
Jack Flaherty pitched his best game in over a month.
Flaherty threw six shutout innings, striking out seven while scattering five hits. He had just one walk. It was his first scoreless appearance since he blanked the Chicago Cubs on June 8 in a 4-0 win.
How big was this?
After he finished the sixth inning, Flaherty didn’t get the typical handshake from Hinch. He got the bro-hug in the dugout.
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But there was still plenty of drama for the Tigers. Tyler Holton entered the game in the seventh inning with the Tigers holding a 3-0 lead. But he got into instant trouble when Tyler Heineman doubled and Davis Schneider walked.
After a fielder's choice, Hinch turned to Brenan Hanifee to face George Springer. And on the first pitch, Hanifee got Springer to line out to center to end the inning.
One big swing
For a second, it looked like the Tigers were going to blow a great chance to score in the third inning after Parker Meadows doubled to right, putting guys on second and third with no outs. But Javier Báez hit a soft, short fly to right and Dillon Dingler was unable to score from third. Then, Colt Keith hit a soft, looping fly to short left field but shortstop Bo Bichette had a fine over the shoulder catch, and Dingler didn’t risk it.
That left it up to Torres, who came through in the clutch, hitting his 10th homer of the season.
The Tigers added plenty of insurance runs in the eighth inning, starting when Báez hit an RBI double to left, knocking in Parker Meadows.
Then, Torres finished his huge day by knocking in another run. In all, the Tigers scored seven runs in their last frame, their first seven-run inning since May 12 against the Boston Red Sox.
Mustache men
Greene shaved his beard and arrived at the clubhouse with a mustache.
"It's for the boys!" he said.
And he convinced Spencer Torkelson to do the same.
Then, in the eighth, Greene and Torkelson both had RBI singles to turn it into a rout, 7-0. And the fans were chanting: "Let's go, Tigers!"
It was like everybody just relaxed. And Dingler turned it into a blowout, picking up two RBIs.
Then, well, the Tigers bullpen fell apart in the ninth, giving up four runs. Right-handed reliever Luke Jackson, signed Saturday, July 26, made his Tigers debut in the ninth inning Sunday, allowing four runs on three walks and two hits while getting only two outs in mop-up duty.
Fun stat of the day
Even though the Tigers have been struggling, they still hold a fun stat.
The Tigers are now 25-0 – an MLB best – when holding a three-run lead after four innings.
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
Next up: Diamondbacks
Matchup: Tigers (61-46) vs. Arizona (51-55), series opener.
First pitch: 6:40 p.m. Monday, July 28; Comerica Park, Detroit.
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1), WDTW-AM (1310; Spanish only).
Matchup:Tigers — TBD; Diamondbacks — LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-6, 5.50 ERA).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers get big hit off Max Scherzer in 10-4 win over Toronto
Category: Baseball
