Detroit Tigers earn split against Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets

-USA TODAY Sports

In their final split-squad games of Spring Training, the Detroit Tigers saw two very different results in which the Tigers outscored their opponents on Tuesday 22-9: an 18-4 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays and a 5-4 loss to the New York Mets.

Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The Tigers stomped the Blue Jays 18-4 thanks in part to a nine-run fifth inning.  Don Kelly hit a grand slam and Ian Kinsler drove a three-run homer out to left to pace the Tigers that inning.

Drew Smyly took the mound and pitched a sound five innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three.  Smyly has continued to impress many this spring, especially once the starters have been beginning to pitch deeper into games.

Ben Guez, Torii Hunter, Ian Kinsler, Austin Jackson, Danny Worth and Hernan Perez  all recorded multiple hits in the game for the Tigers.

After the disappointing Jose Iglesias news, possible replacements  –Worth and Perez– faired well at the bottom of the order against the Blue Jays, combining to go for 4-for-8 with five runs scored and two walks.

Phil Coke, Evan Reed and Luke Putkonen all pitched scoreless innings in relief for Smyly.

Box Score Highlights

• B. Guez: 3-for-3, 1 RBI, 3 BB
• D. Kelly: 1-for-3, GS, 4 RBI
• T. Hunter: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 BB
• I. Kinsler: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
• D. Smyly: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Mets

Andrew Brown singled off of Jhan Martinez to plate Anthony Seratelli in the bottom of the ninth for the Mets to give them the walk-off win by the score of 5-4 over the Tigers.

The Tigers got out to a 4-1 lead early after Miguel Cabrera and Tyler Collins home runs.  The Mets tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth after Wilmer Flores singled in former Tiger Curtis Granderson and Jose Alvarez‘s wild pitch that brought in Eric Flores.

Kyle Lobstein got the start for the Tigers, allowing one run and striking out two over 2 2/3 innings.  Jose Alvarez came on in relief for 3 innings but struggled against the Mets, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three as well.

Ian Krol and Jose Ortega also came on in relief and pitched a combined 2 1/3 innings of shutout baseball.

Box Score Highlights

• M. Cabrera: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
• T. Collins: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
• K. Lobstein: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
• J. Alvarez: 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 1 B

The Tigers will take a day off on Wednesday before traveling to the Washington Nationals spring training facility on Thursday to take on former Tiger Doug Fister‘s new team.  First pitch set for 1:05 p.m. local time.