Detroit Tigers: Spencer Turnbull’s Toledo Tuneup Start

The Detroit Tigers will be glad to see Spencer Turnbull when he rejoins the team next week.

In a tuneup start against the Cincinnati Reds alternate squad team last night, the right-hander was in mid-season form in the Detroit Tigers 5-2 victory. Turnbull went 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, a pair of walks, and two strikeouts.  (Correction to the tweet from what was posted on the Tigers Minor League Report account)

Reds infielder Jose Garcia started the offense against Turnbull in the first with a single before he was gunned down by Jake Rogers. Then, Turnbull got his first strikeout of the day against Mike Freeman with a fastball to end the inning.

The second inning for Turnbull went smooth as he sat down the Reds batters in order. In the third, after a leadoff walk to infielder Errol Robinson, who would later steal second and then advanced to third, Turnbull threw to third and started this relay that would get Robinson out at home plate.

After a scoreless 4th inning, centerfield Narciso Crook led off the 5th with a double and he would eventually score. He would get Alfredo Rodriguez on a grounder for the only out he would record in the 5th inning.  Overall, Turnbull’s slider had a ton of late movement and he was challenging Reds inside with his fastball, which was hitting 94 on the Fifth Third Field radar gun with consistency. Miguel Del Pozo, Jason Foley, and Wladimir Pinto held down the Reds from there.

Detroit Tigers Alt-Site offenisve highlights

The Tigers would strike first in the second.  Infielder Ryan Kreidler walked. Before we get to the scoring play, it is worth mentioning that Kreidler, who was the Tigers’ 4th round draft pick in 2019 out of UCLA, has never played about short-season Low-A ball. His spring training performance is a big reason why perhaps he is on the alternate site roster.

Danny Woodrow, who started in center field, hit a triple off the wall to score Kreidler.  From there, Jacob Robson singled and drove in Woodrow.

In the bottom of the third, Eric Haase hit a two-run shot and after another Woodrow triple, DH Aderlin Rodriguez hit a double to drive in Woodrow for the Tigers to take a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers are back at it this afternoon at 2:10 against the Reds down at Fifth Third Field.