MLB Spring Training Recap: Vierling, Skubal led Tigers Beat Blue Jays

The Detroit Tigers faced the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon in Dunedin, FL. The Tigers entered today 5-12 in Grapefruit League play while Toronto was 9-10.

Detroit Tigers Starting Lineup

DH – Parker Meadows
3B – Kevin McGonigle
CF – Matt Vierling
RF – Wenceel Perez
C – Dillon Dingler
2B – Zach McKinstry
SS – Javier Báez
1B – Jace Jung
LF – Trei Cruz

LHP – Tarik Skubal

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup

LF – George Springer
2B – Davis Schneider
C – Alejandro Kirk
RF – Eloy Jiménez
DH – Dalton Varsho
SS – Leo Jiménez
CF – Myles Straw
3B – John Kasevich
1B – Riley Tirotta

RHP – Max Scherzer

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Tigers vs. Blue Jays

Scoring

It took until the fifth inning for either team to get on the board. The Tigers struck first, after back-to-back two-out walks, Matt Vierling doubled home Parker Meadows who was the first walk. Next batter Wenceel Perez singled home Kevin McGonigle who was the second walk to make it 2-0 Tigers. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Blue Jays got one of the two runs back as Dalton Varsho hit his fourth home run of the spring to make it 2-1. Detroit added another run in the seventh due to another Vierling double. This one scored Gage Workman who pinch ran for McGonigle after he walked. The Tigers added more in the eighth as John Peck singled home Max Anderson, the very next batter Andrew Jenkins singled home Peck. The Tigers added another sixth run in the ninth with a single from Anderson that drove home Zach MacDonald.

Pitching

Detroit

Tarik Skubal got the ball in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic. He went 4.2 innings giving up one run on three hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out seven. Jack Little was first out of the bullpen for Detroit. Burch Smith got the seventh for Detroit, he didn’t allow a hit, walked one, and struck out one. Tanner Rainey allowed just one walk and struck out two in the eighth. Sean Guenther in the ninth walked two, allowed a hit and struck out one.

Toronto

Max Scherzer got the start for Toronto. He went 4.2 shutout innings allowing two hits; he walked two and struck out five. Tommy Nance came in and allowed two runs on two hits; he walked two and struck out one in 1.1 innings. Louie Varland had the seventh and he allowed a run on one hit; he walked one and struck out one. Jorge Alcala got the eighth lasting only 0.1 innings as he allowed two runs on four hits. Josh Fleming finished the inning off and got the ninth. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk; he struck out two.

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Next Up:

The Tigers are on the road again tomorrow as they face the New York Yankees who are playing a split-squad game with first pitch at 1:05 PM EST. The Blue Jays face the New York Mets tomorrow on the road with first pitch set for 1:10 PM EST.