ANAHEIM, Calif. – Now, that’s how you earn a day off – after picking up another win, of course.
The Tigers ended a grueling stretch of 23 games in 24 days with an overpowering 13-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on May 4.
Most impressively?
They won 15 of those games. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was able to get his bullpen through this challenging stretch by moving relievers up and down from Triple-A Toledo and adding Keider Montero to the rotation to keep his starter’s fresh.
“We’re in a good place,” Hinch said before the game. “I would say, if anyone is beat up, it’s our position players because they play virtually every day, even the days that they don’t. They’re coming into the games, and so they need to break (May 5) as much as anybody.”
That was the crazy thing about this get-away game. The Tigers hitters looked incredibly fresh and locked in, even though they are in the middle of a season-long 11-day, 10-game, three-city trip that began in Houston (1-2) and will conclude with three games in Colorado starting May 6.
But Trey Sweeney led the way with three singles, crushed a ball to deep center field that was caught and a homer to right, driving in six runs. Kerry Carpenter had four hits, including a homer and double, while driving in a career-high 5 RBIs. And Colt Keith jacked his third homer in five games and added a couple of walks.
“We’re in a good place,” Hinch said before the game, although it certainly applied after as well. “Our guys are built to handle it.”
The Tigers (22-13) have now won eight of 11 series.
The Tigers bullpen was so rested that Hinch turned to Will Vest to pitch the ninth in a blowout, if only to get some work before the off day.
Another strong start for Reese Olson
One of the stories of this 23-game stretch has been the Tigers’ strong starting pitching. Entering the series finale against the Angels, the Tigers pitchers had a 2.75 team ERA (during this stretch), the second-lowest in all of baseball, trailing only the San Diego Padres (2.52 ERA).
And Tigers starter Reese Olson went out and blanked the Angels.
Olson got into trouble in the first inning, loading the bases after a giving up a single, a walk and hit by pitch. But he struck out Luis Rengifo to get out of the jam.
He cruised through the middle of the game, holding the Angels scoreless, and then seemed to run out of gas in the sixth inning with a pair of walks and a wild pitch. But Brenan Hanifee cleaned it up, getting Jo Adell to pop out to Colt Keith at first base to end the threat.
Olson finished with a strong line: eight strikeouts, three walks, no runs and just three hits over 5⅔ innings.
Being smart on bases
The Tigers preach doing the little things right, making smart decisions and being aggressive. But sometimes, just slowing down is the right play.
In the second inning, Spencer Torkelson was on second base and Javier Báez hit a grounder to third baseman Rengifo, who was in the baseline. So, Torkelson stopped. If he would have continued running, he would have been tagged out. But Rengifo’s only option was to get a force out at second base and Torkelson continued to third base.
So, when Sweeney, the next batter, singled to shallow left field, Torkelson scored with ease. And it was an example of a little thing that actually turned into a run.
Kerry Carpenter’s excellent road trip
Carpenter has had a tremendous, productive road trip.
He came into the game, hitting .286 on this road trip (6-21), hitting two homers and a double. He started the game by singling into left center field. And in the second inning, he hit a double to right field, driving in a pair of runs. Then, he topped it off by hitting his eighth homer of the season.
Matt Vierling update
Matt Vierling (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo.
“I was texting with him this morning,” Hinch said before the game. “He was like a kid going to his first Little League game where he was happy to be back in uniform and back playing.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
Next up: Rockies
Matchup: Tigers (22-13) at Colorado (6-28).
First pitch: 8:40 p.m. May 6; Coors Field, Denver.
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Probable pitchers: Tigers — RHP Jackson Jobe (2-0, 3.38 ERA); Rockies — RHP Chase Dollander (2-3, 6.48 ERA).
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
