Game Recap: Verlander Roughed up in First Tigers Start in over Eight Years

The Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks played the first game of their three-game series. Justin Verlander made his return to the mound for the Tigers while Michael Soroka got the ball for the Diamondbacks.

Detroit Tigers Starting Lineup

RF – Kerry Carpenter
2B – Gleybar Torres
DH – Colt Keith
LF – Riley Greene
1B – Spencer Torkelson
3B – Kevin McGonigle
C – Dillon Dingler
CF – Parker Meadows
SS – Javier Baez
RHP – Justin Verlander

Arizona Diamondbacks Starting Lineup

2B – Ketel Marte
RF – Corbin Caroll
SS – Geraldo Perdomo
C – Gabriel Moreno
3B – Nolan Arenado
CF – Alek Thomas
1B – Carlos Santana
DH – Ildermo Vargas
LF – Jordan Lawler

RHP – Michael Soroka

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Tigers vs. Diamondbacks

First Three

The Tigers got a one-out walk from Gleybar Torres, then Colt Keith struck out and Riley Greene singled, giving them first and second with two outs, before Spencer Torkelson hit into a force out, as Arizona got out of the jam. Justin Verlander made his first start back with the Tigers. Arizona got to him early as Ketel Marte led off with a single. Marte stole second and Corbin Caroll tripled him home to make it 1-0. Geraldo Perdomo followed up the triple with a walk. Gabriel Moreno hit into a force out but it allowed Caroll to score to make it 2-0.

The Tigers in the second got a two-out double from Parker Meadows but that threat was ended as Javier Baez struck out. Arizona continued its offensive output in the second. After a Carlos Santana lineout, they got back-to-back singles. Caroll two batters later would hit a three-home run to make it 5-0. In the third inning, the Tigers had second and third with one out after a Kerry Carpenter single led off the inning then two batters after Colt Keith doubled but the Diamondbacks got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts. Verlander in the third allowed a leadoff double to Moreno but got out of the inning even picking up his first strikeout back with the Tigers as he got Alek Thomas with a great curveball.

Middle Three

The Tigers went down 1-2-3 in the fourth. Verlander got two quick outs before giving up a walk to Marte ending his night as he went 3.2 innings allowing five runs on six hits; he walked two and struck out one. Emmanuel De Jesus replaced Verlander to face Caroll. Marte would advance to second on a wild pitch but De Jesus got Carroll to strike out to end the inning. Michael Soroka stuck out the side in the fifth. In the bottom half the Diamondbacks got to De Jesus. After back-to-back singles, Alek Thomas doubled home Gabriel Moreno who led off with a single. The next batter Carlos Santana walked De Jesus would retire the next batter but walked in a run when Jordan Lawler drew a walk. Arizona got another run on a force out to make it 8-0. Brant Hurter would replace De Jesus and he got the final out. Soroka’s night was over after five as Kevin Ginkel got the sixth and he got the Tigers to go down in order. Arizona would also go down in order.

Last Three

In the top of the seventh Joe Ross replaced Ginkel and the Tigers’ bats made this a ball game. Kevin McGonigle led off the inning with a walk, and then he would score on a Dillon Dingler double. A few batters later, Dingler would score on a Javier Baez single. Gleybar Torres would also be single, which led to Colt Keith hitting a double, bringing home Torres and Baez. Riley Greene would single home Keith. That would end Ross’ night, and Ryan Thompson was next out of the bullpen. He allowed a double to Spencer Torkelson, which brought home Greene to make it 8-6. McGonigle and Dingler walked to load the bases. Thompson would be relieved for Juan Morillo, who got out of the jam and ended the inning. A brand new ballgame now at 8-6, Arizona. The Diamondbacks would add on another run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-6, and that would be the ball game as the Tigers went down in order in the eighth and ninth.

Player of the Game:

Corbin Caroll went 2-4 with two runs scored and four RBI with his home run and triple off of Verlander, which led Arizona’s offense.

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Next Up:

The two teams meet for the middle game tomorrow with Casey Mize getting the ball for the Tigers while Brandon Pfaadt gets the ball for Arizona. First pitch will be at 9:40 PM EST.