Detroit Tigers rally, snap eight game winless streak

It doesn’t really matter if it’s a meaningless game, when you win, you feel good. After Saturday’s victory over the New York Mets, the Detroit Tigers feel good for the first time in over a week.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez hit a solo home run in the first inning and third baseman Nick Castellanos started a three-run rally in the sixth to help the Tigers beat the Mets, 6-4.

The victory is Detroit’s first in eight games which includes one scoreless tie versus the Nationals.

More from Motor City Bengals

• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?
• Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene continues to impress with his performance

Tigers pitcher David Price, who manager Brad Ausmus announced Friday would start for the Tigers on Opening Day, started for Detroit. After Martinez gave Price the early, 1-0, lead, Price worked around a double in the first and a single in the second to pitch two shutout innings.

In the third, however, Mets shortstop Rueben Tejada earned his second hit off of Price in the game, and then Tejada scored on John Mayberrry Jr.’s single.

Price ended the threat inducing a groundout from Eric Campbell. The Tigers ace pitched four and 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out seven and walking one.

The Mets tacked on a run versus Tigers relief pitcher Angel Nesbitt in the top of the sixth and seventh inning.

But in the bottom of the sixth, Detroit’s offense finally awoke.

Martinez walked to start the inning and scored on Castellanos’ single to left field. Jason Krizan moved to second on the single. Two batters later, Bryan Holaday reached on an error that scored Krizan, and then Castellanos scored on Hernan Perez‘s sacrifice fly.

New York’s second run against Nesbitt in the top of the seventh, though, tied the game at four.

Just as a win is a win in a meaningless, a win is a win even if it is ugly.

Detroit scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth. Incredibly, the Tigers added an insurance run in the eighth the same way.

Castellanos, along with catcher Alex Avila and center fielder Rajai, led the way for the Tigers offense, each recording two hits. Davis also reached base on a walk, but he did not score in the three times he reached base.

Martinez’s home run was his fourth of Spring Training. He also has seven RBI while hitting .341.

Next: Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez could play Sunday