Detroit Tigers’ Split Squads Stumble in Double Loss

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers’ Spring Training win streak came to a close today with losses in both of the split squad games. Young Tigers pitchers were bashed on both fields, giving up a combined 12 earned runs between the staff. The Tigers lost 10-6 to the Phillies and 7-4 to the Yankees. While both games were ugly, there were bright spots to find on both sides of the plate for the split squads.

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

There was little offense to speak of from the Tigers at home today until the seventh inning, and a few base running blunders that cost the team possible runs and outs. Rajai Davis led off the first with a double, but was then picked off second base; he struck out in another at bat. Young bats came to life late in the game with RBI hits totaling four runs from Ben Guez, Steven Moya and John Murrian in the seventh. The Tigers rallied again in the bottom of the ninth, with Danny Worth batting with two on, two out but Worth was sat down on three straight pitches, ending the hopes of a comeback.

Max Scherzer started off his Spring season with the home squad, pitching two innings, cutting down two with strikeouts and giving up a lone hit, a no-doubter home run to Brian McCann, the first batter of the second inning. He also picked up his first loss of 2014, as the Tigers never held a lead against the Yankees.

Other Notable Home Squad Pitching Performances:

• Jose Ortega pitched two innings, striking out three and giving up one hit, a solo home run to Gary Sanchez in the third inning.
• Phil Coke retired the side in order in the fifth, picking up a strike out. While there’s no radar at Joker Marchant, his fastball looked to be crossing the plate in the high eighties.
• Luis Marte had a rough outing, pitching an inning and a third and giving up a base on balls and three hits, one of which was a two run homer to Jose Pierla in the seventh inning.

Detroit Tigers at Philadelphia Phillies

The Tigers offense got off to a strong start against the Phillies with a bases loaded opportunity for Nick Castellanos in the first inning, who crushed a long double to center field, clearing the bases and picking up three RBIs. The Tigers’ offense was hushed until Castellanos knocked yet another double in the top of the seventh, scoring Austin Jackson. Tyler Collins and Castellanos also scored in the seventh, on a ground out and sacrifice fly respectively, but it was not enough to recover from the eight run bottom of the third for the Phillies.

Notable Away Squad Pitching Performances:

• Jose Alvarez started for the Tigers at Brighthouse Field, pitching two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out two, while ceding one earned run.
• Jhan Marinez had an atrocious outing and was in no way assisted by an error riddled infield in the third inning. He pitched two thirds of an inning, walking two, giving up two hits and six runs, three of which were earned.
• Jose Valdez finished out the third out of the inning, but it took him a walk and a two hits(one of which was a two run homer to Jimmy Rollins) to do so.
• After the third inning fiasco, Tigers’ pitchers Evan Reed(1IP, 1K), Melvin Mercedes(2IP, 2K), Kyle Ryan(1IP, 1K) and Endrys Briceno(1IP, 1K, 1ER) combined to rack up five strikeouts, no walks, one hit and one earned run in five innings.

The Tigers faces Houston at Joker Marchant Stadium tomorrow at 1:05pm.