Detroit Tigers: Observations From 5-5 Spring Training Tie with Mets

Detroit Tigers players returned to action on Thursday against the New York Mets. While the club didn’t win the game, they did come away with a tie. Here’s what stood out.

Detroit Tigers fans saw the team play on national television on Thursday, as the team faced off against Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets in Grapefruit League action.

The game ended in a tie—it is Spring Training after all—but there were plenty of positives to be had for Detroit.

Brad Ausmus used a number of pitchers from last year’s team who could very well be on the Opening Day roster in Chicago next month.

Anibal Sanchez started and was replaced after three innings by Mark Lowe. Alex Wilson and Shane Greene both threw an inning, while Matt Boyd finished things off with three frames of his own.

Four different Tigers drove in runs as Ausmus fielded a lineup that included a few starters.

Anthony Gose, Andrew Romine, Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez, Tyler Collins, James McCann, Dominic Ficociello, Mikie Mahtook and Dixon Machado started the game.

Tyler Collins

Tyler Collins turned in a quality at-bat early against Jacob deGrom. The Mets starter turned in a quality outing against the Tigers, allowing just two hits in four innings.

Collins took a 3-2 pitch from the starter and deposited it down the right field line for a double.

Detroit’s outfielder previously battled back from an 0-2 count versus New York’s standout starter.

Anibal Sanchez’ Day

Anibal Sanchez looked ok for two innings. The veteran received the start for Detroit and went three frames.

Overall, the first two passed without too much incident. However, the Mets put some runs on the board in the third.

Tomas Nido led off by beating out a throw to first by Nick Castellanos. Champ Stuart followed it up with a two-run home run.

Sanchez then allowed a single to Asdrubal Cabrera before former Tiger Yoenis Cespedes launched a two-run shot to left.

Encouraging Work From the Bullpen

Mark Lowe was solid in the fourth inning. The reliever, who has struggled so far this spring, turned in a decent outing. Lowe made a mistake pitch on a double down the line, but otherwise threw well.

Alex Wilson turned in a quality inning, including forcing Yoenis Cespedes to ground out. Wilson and Cespedes came to the Detroit Tigers in the same trade that sent Rick Porcello to Boston.

Shane Greene also pitched for Detroit, throwing a perfect sixth.

Matt Boyd Turned in a Strong Outing

Like Sanchez, Boyd also threw three innings. However, unlike Sanchez, the younger starter looked sharp.

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In his three frames of work, Boyd struck out four while allowing three hits and a run. He only ran into trouble in the ninth when he allowed a single and a triple that the wind carried to the wall.

JaCoby Jones Destroyed a Baseball

For much of the game, Mikie Mahtook manned center field for the tigers, registering a hit and two strikeouts in three at-bats.

JaCoby Jones entered as a pinch hitter for his former college teammate in the ninth and proceeded to obliterate a baseball, sending it well beyond the left field wall.

The solo shot was Jones’ first of the spring and tied the game for Detroit.

Dominic Ficociello Continues to Hit

JaCoby Jones wasn’t the only player to go yard for the Tigers in Thursday’s contest.

Dominic Ficociello took Erik Goeddel deep in in the seventh, depositing a pitch over the left field wall for an opposite-field shot.

The utility player started and played the entire game at first base. He leads the Tigers with three home runs this.

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Ficociello is also pacing Detroit in runs scored (six) and RBI (eight). He’s tied for second behind Andrew Romine in total hits with seven base knocks.

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