CLEVELAND—The Detroit Tigers‘ the offense scored the first points. Right-hander Alex Faedo pitched the sixth inning and earned his first MLB victory. And the bullpen kept the Cleveland Guardians scoreless.
These ingredients helped the Tigers end a three-game losing streak.
The Tigers outscored the Guardians, 4-2, in Sunday’s series finale at Progressive Field. The series was scheduled to be three games between the rivals at American League Central, but Saturday’s clash was postponed due to rain.
“It was a good game,” manager AJ Hinch said. “We played pretty well all the way. … There was a lot to like today.”
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The Tigers (14-26) relied on their best bullpen arms throughout the stretch, and they were boosted by a solo home run from their best player, shortstop Javier Báez, in the eighth round.
“The support of my teammates is really important,” Báez said. “We struggled as a team, and as a team we need to get up and play better.”
Báez’s outburst — his first homer since April 26 — gave the Tigers a 4-2 advantage.
It was also his first RBI since April 30.
“We need him,” Hinch said.
Báez entered Sunday’s game averaging .176 with four doubles, three RBIs, three walks and 25 strikeouts since his April 26 home run. In that game, the Tigers lost to the Minnesota Twins on a pitch error by catcher Eric Haase in the ninth inning.
“I’m still working on it,” Báez said. “I’m not there yet. I’m just trying to see the ball well. My timing is good, just in terms of approach and mentality, I have to do well. I know it’s going to get there. I’ I’m in no rush, but I’m working hard enough to keep my approach the same.”
As for the bullpen, the Tigers used three bullpen.
Southpaw Andrew Chafin took over for Faedo with one out in the sixth inning. He pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings, including one strikeout, before right-hander Alex Lange got the ball back with two outs in the seventh.
Lange finished in the seventh and worked around a two-out walk to Guardians hitter Jose Ramirez in the eighth. Southpaw Gregory Soto ran a scoreless ninth – despite Josh Naylor diving near the elbow with a 99mph fastball – to lock in his seventh save.
The Tigers scored the kickoff in the top of the fifth inning. Single singles from Tucker Barnhart and Daz Cameron created an opportunity for Robbie Grossman.
Grossman hit a fastball past Naylor, the Guardians’ first baseman, and into right field, which put Barnhart up from second for a 3-2 lead. Naylor was charged with a field error on the play.
Cameron assisted Faedo in the bottom of the fifth and preserved the Tigers’ 3-2 advantage. Cameron, making his third appearance at center, deprived Amed Rosario of a two-run homer and started an 8-4-3 double play for the second and third outs.
“He hit it pretty well,” Cameron said. “After I read the ball, I saw I had a pretty good chance. As I got closer to the wall, going up, and the ball was right there, I just caught it and sent it back for the double.”
Faedo, facing Cleveland for the first time in his career, allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts, throwing 56 of 86 pitches for strikes. He has a 3.00 ERA this season.
“It was an amazing game,” Faedo said. “My emotions were up and down as that ball was going because I could see his mannerisms. … He swung the bat well. He made these crazy plays. He had a great day.”
Finally, a first round on the road
The Tigers scored in the first inning, earning their first run scored in the first inning on the road this season.
“Hopefully the second is tomorrow,” Hinch said.
Miguel Cabrera doubled to left field, bringing in Grossman, who walked first, stole second base and advanced to third base on Willi Castro’s field. The Tigers blocked Cabrera at second base, however, as Báez and Jeimer Candelario had back-to-back strikeouts.
The brace marked Cabrera’s 603rd brace in his 20-year MLB career. He’s tied with Cal Ripken Jr. for 16th on the all-time doubles list. The 39-year-old, hitting .276 this season, went 1 for 4 with an RBI and two strikeouts.
The Guardians tied the Tigers late in the first inning.
Owen Miller tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single to center. A subsequent walk from Naylor charged the bases, but Faedo escaped with back-to-back outs. Franmil Reyes hit swinging and Andres Gimenez flew out to left field.
Guardians starter Shane Bieber allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts. He struck out five of the last eight batters he faced and threw 71 of 106 pitches for strikes.
“His stuff is good,” Hinch said. “It cuts, it flows, he throws high fastballs and his stuff plays really well. He threw us in the area where some of our weaknesses are. He’s a really good pitcher and he’s going to find his way. We We were able to enjoy a few walks.”
alex the great
Faedo, in his fourth start, needed 29 pitches in the first inning.
He settled through the second and third frames.
“I needed to get back into the (attack) zone,” Faedo said. “I needed to step forward (on the count) and execute.”
The 26-year-old worked around a first single in second, thanks to a double play from Candelario at third to second baseman Jonathan Schoop to first baseman Spencer Torkelson.
Then Faedo threw a perfect third as he took out Rosario, Ramirez and Miller.
“He’s got guns and he’s competitive,” Hinch said. “He’s not scared, which is key. The moment never speeds up too fast for him. He’s always in control on the mound. There’s a lot to like about him.”
The Tigers backed Faedo with their second run, for a 2-1 advantage, in the second inning. Cameron got his first RBI of the season – a two-out single to the middle – but was picked to end the inning first.
Again, the Guardians fought back.
In the fourth inning, Faedo gifted Naylor a 93.1 mph fastball in a 3-1 count. The pitch moved down and away, hitting the corner of the strike zone, but Naylor hammered the ball 416 feet from center field.
The home run, Naylor’s sixth this year, tied the game at 2-2.
Faedo did not concede another run.
He pitched the sixth inning, but Hinch avoided another Faedo-Naylor game. Chafin came in with one out and a runner on first base. Naylor hit swinging on a fourth-pitch slider, and Reyes flew to deep left center for the third out in the sixth.
For his 86 throws, Faedo used 38 four-seam fastballs (44%), 30 sliders (35%) and 18 changes (31%). He recorded six swings and misses: four sliders and two changeups. He also recorded 18 strikes called: 11 fastballs, six sliders and one change.
His fastball averaged 92.1 mph.
“He’s fearless,” Hinch said. “He’ll throw any pitch. He’s got three pitches. It helps you when there isn’t one, or maybe the game plan says to do one thing over another with variety. of batters you’re going to face.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Learn more about the Detroit Tigers and subscribe to our Tigers Bulletin.
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