The St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers played the first game of their three-game series as the Tigers had their home opener. Framber Valdez got the ball for Detroit, facing off against Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup
SS – Masyn Winn
C – Ivan Herrera
1B – Alec Burleson
3B – Ramos Urías
RF – Jordan Walker
DH – Yohel Pozo
2B – Thomas Saggese
LF – José Fermín
CF – Victor Scott
RHP – Michael McGreevy
Detroit Tigers Starting Lineup
3B – Kevin McGonigle
DH – Gleyber Torres
RF – Kerry Carpenter
LF – Riley Greene
C – Dillon Dingler
2B – Zach McKinstry
1B – Spencer Torkelson
CF – Parker Meadows
SS – Javier Báez
LHP – Framber Valdez
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Cardinals vs. Tigers
First Three
The first two innings were silent with Valdez setting the Cardinals down for the first six outs of the game. St. Louis would threaten with two outs in the third with runners on first and third after back-to-back singles, but Valdez retired Ivan Herrera. The Tigers would also threaten in the third after a Javier Báez single, and he stole second. Gleyber Torres singled, but the Cardinals got Báez out at home.
Middle Three
After a leadoff single in the fourth, Valdez got the next two batters to strikeout. The next two batters would reach via an error and a walk, loading the bases. Valdez got José Fermín to fly out, ending the jam. The Tigers would strike first in the bottom of the fourth after a one-out double from Riley Greene. Dillon Dingler hit a two-run home run to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Valdez allowed a two-out walk in the fifth, but that was all as he ended the inning with a groundout. Kevin McGonigle hit a one-out double in the fifth, but he was retired as Torres hit into a force out as the Cardinal got the out at third.
That would end McGreevy’s day as Justin Bruihl replaced him. Kerry Carpenter would be single, and Torres would go first to third. Torres would score on a Riley Greene single. Valdez in the sixth would send the Cardinals down in order. The Tigers would add to their lead in the bottom half of the sixth after two outs. Parker Meadows was hit by a pitch. He would steal second and score on a Báez single.
Last Three
Valdez’s day was done after six shutout innings. Will Vest replaced him, and after a leadoff single, he got three quick outs. The Tigers got back-to-back walks in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals got out of it. Kyle Finnegan got the eighth for the Tigers. He allowed a single and a walk to start the inning, but got out of it, setting down the next three. The Tigers went down in order in the eighth. Tyler Holton got the ninth, and he picked up the save, putting the Cardinals away 1-2-3.
Player of the Game:
Framber Valdez. He looked like an ace today in his first game at Comerica Park as a Tiger, going six shutout innings. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out five.
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Next Up:
The two teams are back at it again tomorrow afternoon with a 1:10 PM EST start time. Jack Flaherty goes for the Tigers against his former ball club. The Cardinals will have Dustin May on the bump.
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