Mets 4, Tigers 3 - Tigers can’t rally late, drop series finale

The Tigers entered Sunday’s game in New York looking to win their first road series since, coincidentally, they were last in New York and took two of three games from the Yankees at the beginning of April. Despite an early lead, and two valiant late inning rallies, they were unable to get the win, as they dropped the finale by a score of 4-3. Spencer Turnbull, who had not pitched past six innings in any of his last three starts, provided a strong start, going seven innings and striking out eight, though he gave up four earned runs and seven hits.

Nicholas Castellanos drove the offense for the Tigers early in the game. He swatted a solo home run to the opposite field in the first inning. In the third inning, with two on and two out, he delivered a clutch two-run single to push the Tigers lead to 3-0. Spencer Turnbull meanwhile was cruising through the first three innings with just two hits and five strikeouts. Things got rough in the fourth inning, though, as the Mets exploded for four runs, three coming on an unlikely home run from Adeiny Hechavarria, to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

Zach Wheeler would slam the door on the Tigers after that, retiring the next 12 batters in order and pitching strong into the eighth inning when the Tigers would finally get runners on base and end Wheeler’s day. Jeurys Familia would come on and strikeout both Lugo and Castellanos to end the threat, a very Familia outcome for Tigers fans. Daniel Stumpf and Zach Reininger would combine to pitch a scoreless bottom of the eighth to keep the Mets within one as the game went to the ninth, and the Mets brought in their closer, Edwin Diaz.

Christin Stewart drew a walk to lead-off the inning, and was lifted for pinch runner Josh Harrison who swiped second to get into scoring position. With one out, Brandon Dixon hit a single through the infield, but Harrison did not read the ball right and held at second too long, which did not allow him to score, instead only reaching third. John Hicks battled Diaz to a nine pitch at bat before striking out though. It all came down to JaCoby Jones, who battled valiantly for 11 pitches before taking a full count pitch for strike three that, well, wasn’t a strike but it was close enough for umpire Jerry Meals.

Tweet of the Game

Hey, look, somone was good today!

Poll