The Detroit Tigers couldn’t turn Casey Mize’s return into a win.
The Tigers (20-26) lost to the Toronto Blue Jays (20-25), 2-1 in 10 innings on Saturday, May 16 at Comerica Park. Mize pitched six scoreless innings in his return from the injured list, but Detroit’s bullpen gave up two runs in the late innings, with the Tigers bats unable to provide the run support needed.
Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run, his third of the season.
The Tigers lead was short-lived, however, as Blue Jays left fielder Yohendrick Piñango led off the seventh inning with a solo home run off Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan – on the first pitch of the inning – to tie the game at 1-1. The Blue Jays scored again in the 10th inning off a Daulton Varsho RBI single to make it 2-1.
A one-out groundout from shortstop Kevin McGonigle moved free runner Zack Short (pinch-running for Colt Keith) to third in the bottom of the 10th, but designated hitter Dillon Dingler struck out to end the game.
Tigers bats quiet once again
The Tigers got their first scoring opportunity in the third inning after a two-out McGonigle single moved second baseman Zach McKinstry to third base. A walk to Dingler loaded the bases with third baseman Gage Workman pinch-hitting for Hao-Yu Lee, but Workman struck out swinging through three straight curveballs to end the inning scoreless.
The Tigers only had four hits through the first seven innings, with two coming from Vierling, while striking out 11 times. McGonigle hit a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning to get the go-ahead run on base, but a Dingler pop-up to third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and a Workman groundout to second ended the threat.
A one-out Riley Greene single in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied at 1-1 put the winning run on first, and first baseman Spencer Torkelson followed that single with a single of his own. After McKinstry grounded into a fielder’s choice, erasing Torkelson at second, pinch-hitter Keith struck out with Greene on third to send the game into extra innings.
Casey Mize returns to the mound
Mize made his first start since leaving an April 28 game against the Atlanta Braves with a left adductor strain and showed the great form he has displayed all season. He finished six scoreless innings on just 71 pitches, allowing two hits and striking out four batters while walking no one, though he ran into a little bit of trouble to start the game.
Mize allowed Piñango on base with a swinging bunt in the first inning, but got slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground into a double play to third baseman Hao-Yu Lee to end the inning.
A one-out double in the fifth inning from Varsho was the second (and final) hit Mize gave up on the day as he faced the minimum number of batters through the first four innings. But Mize got out of the jam by striking out right fielder Jesús Sánchez and getting a pop out from second baseman Lenyn Sosa.
Mize only faced one batter above the minimum in his six-inning start, one day after the Tigers used four pitchers in the first three innings in their Friday win. Finnegan replaced Mize in the seventh and gave up the game-tying home run, while relievers Connor Seabold and Kenley Jansen pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
It was Seabold’s first appearance since April 25, as he was activated off the injured list on Friday.
The Tigers and Blue Jays close out the series on Sunday (1:40 p.m., Detrit SportsNet. Tigers starter Jack Flaherty is scheduled to pitch against Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Casey Mize back from IL with gem, but Tigers waste it in 10-inning L
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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