Detroit Tigers continue to roll over Colorado Rockies with 7-4 win

The Detroit Tigers will not stop winning.

The Tigers scored six runs in the first inning and beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4 in the second of three games in the series on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to four games. The Tigers, still three games behind in the American League wild-card race, have a chance to win the series and extend their winning streak on Thursday with ace Tarik Skubal on the mound.

There are still 16 games left.

“It's unbelievable,” catcher Jake Rogers said when asked about the red-hot 20-game winning streak. “I want everyone in this locker room to feel like they're in the race and can make it to September because we have a team good enough to do it. I want these guys to know that we have something to work on this year, next year and the years after that. We have a great team. We can do it.”

Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) celebrates a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.

As for Wednesday's win, right-hander Casey Mize put a zero on the scoreboard early in the first inning, immediately followed by the offensive outbreak.

“One of the goals today was to be a little bit crisper in the first inning,” Mize said. “Good first inning, especially the bottom half. I don't want to say it feels like the game is over, but it feels like I can go out there and hit the strike zone and I think we have a good chance to win.”

The Tigers scored six runs in the first frame for the first time since seven runs in July 2018.

Second-place batter Riley Greene opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field against right-hander Tanner Gordon. His 21st home run gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

JEFF SEIDEL:Everything is fun for the young Tigers team. This is an advantage in the playoff push

The Tigers (75-71) did not let up.

After Greene's home run, Kerry Carpenter tripled to make it 2-0, Spencer Torkelson singled to make it 3-0, and rookie Trey Sweeney hit a three-run home run to make it 6-0.

“We are good hitters,” Greene said.

Against Gordon, Sweeney had two strikes in two pitches, but he took three balls and missed two fastballs, allowing him to get to the plate until the eighth pitch. On that pitch, Sweeney converted an up-and-in slider and hit a 407-foot home run to right field.

He hit the ball with an exit velocity of 108.5 miles per hour.

It was the fourth home run of Sweeney's 21-game MLB career, but even more notable was that it was the third home run in his last seven games, during which he also had a four-hit game.

“Nine at-bats in the first, six positives, six points,” manager AJ Hinch said. “We'd like to have a couple of those back, but you pass the baton to the next guy and it seemed like the at-bats were getting better and better. It was a good execution of the plan we talked about a couple of hours before the game.”

AS:How the Tigers plan to use ace Tarik Skubal in the race for the postseason

The Tigers increased their lead to 7-1 in the fourth inning on Greene's sacrifice fly. Third base coach Joey Cora surprised everyone when he tested the strong arm of center fielder Brenton Doyle by sending Rogers — not known for his speed — home from third base. The ball bounced off the back of the pitcher's mound, so there was no play at the plate.

Carpenter, one of the team's best power hitters, went 4 for 4 and finished the game with a home run just short of the cycle. He had a chance to cycle in the seventh inning when he faced left-handed reliever Luis Peralta, but he managed an infield single with a dribble.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make“Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple,Spotify) ]

Casey Mize starts

Mize delivered one of his best performances of the season – until his last inning.

His splinter was incredible.

Mize, a former No. 1 pick with a 4.47 ERA in 19 starts, allowed four runs on six hits and zero walks with seven strikeouts in 4⅔ innings, throwing 66 pitches. Six of his seven strikeouts were swinging strikeouts and his splitter produced eight whiffs on 13 swings.

“I really think it's just about getting outs,” Hinch said. “I understand the swing-and-miss infatuation. I understand the desire to do it a certain way. We're at the point in the season where we're just trying to get outs. If he gets light contact early, that's cool. If he can get swing-and-miss, that's great. I'm in the judgment-free mindset of just getting his outs.”

SEE AND LEARN:Matt Vierling is the leader of the young Tigers in the race for the postseason

The 27-year-old limited the Rockies to one run (and two hits) before allowing three runs on four hits in the fifth inning. His slider was responsible for three of the six hits during his start, with the three hits from the slider leading to the four runs.

Those three hits? Ryan McMahon's solo home run in the second inning, Ezequiel Tovar's two-run double in the fifth inning and Doyle's RBI single in the fifth.

“They just found some grass in the outfield on a couple of sliders,” Mize said. “I might have preferred to have them a little bit lower down. Not terrible throws, but since they're aggressive, I can expand the zone a little bit. I probably should have done that.”

The Rockies cut the Tigers' deficit to 7-4 with two outs in the fifth when Mize retired. He still had more gas in the tank, but the Tigers didn't want Mize to face McMahon a third time.

Instead, the Tigers turned to left-handed reliever Tyler Holton with a runner on second base. McMahon made a full count but flew into foul territory in left field, ending the fifth inning.

“I love the calmness he brings to this game and the execution that comes with it,” Hinch said of Holton. “It just feels like his execution is so good that he puts us in a good position. … It's no secret. I usually turn to him at the first sign of a problem when we're ahead.”

Bullpen shines

After Mize, the Tigers got scoreless performances from Holton (two innings), right-hander Will Vest (1⅓ innings) and right-hander Jason Foley (one inning) out of the bullpen.

Vest had the most impressive inning in the eighth, striking out three of the Rockies' top four hitters in a row: Doyle (groundout), McMahon (groundout) and Michael Toglia (strikeout).

Toglia missed with a 96.6 mph fastball.

Vest has a 2.86 ERA with 17 walks and 58 strikeouts in 63 innings in 62 relief appearances. Since Aug. 18, he has pitched 10⅓ innings with one run, zero walks and 11 strikeouts.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show, “Days of Roar,” every Monday afternoon on demand on freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And check out all of our podcasts and the daily speech recap at freep.com/podcasts.

Detroit Tigers continue to roll over Colorado Rockies with 7-4 win

You may also like...

Recent Posts

Detroit Tigers continue to roll over Colorado Rockies with 7-4 win

You may also like...

Mother who jumped off I-95 charged with manslaughter

Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key's drug suspension was lifted following an appeal

Coco Gauff needs a fresh start after the US Open

Recent Posts