Another low-scoring nail-biter went down Saturday afternoon in Detroit, but this time, the Tigers came out on top 2-1 against the Dodgers. This was the middle game of a three-game weekend series and just like Friday night, it was all about the pitchers bringing their A-game. What a grind, man! You had to be on the edge of your seat for every single pitch.
Montero’s Roller Coaster Keeps Rolling
Keider Montero, the Tigers’ guy on the mound, has been a total wild card this season, but in the best way possible. His previous six starts went 1, 6, 0, 5, 0, and 3 runs allowed, respectively. That pattern screams that he was due for a stingy outing, and on extra rest? Yeah, the dude was dialed in, and the Tigers weren’t about to let him hit a hundred pitches. He looked *sharp* early, letting up only a Shohei Ohtani single and a Kyle Tucker walk through three innings. Montero was dealing first-pitch strikes to 15 of his first 17 batters, and through five innings, 40 of his 60 pitches were strikes. Talk about efficiency! But then the top of the sixth rolled around, and things got a little shaky. Alek Thomas ripped a leadoff double, moved to third on an Ohtani groundout, and then Freddie Freeman singled him home to tie the game 1-1. A Mookie Betts liner that ticked off Hao-Yu Lee’s glove at third, and that was it for Montero. Tyler Holton came in to try and shut it down.
Snell’s Tough Return and Tigers’ Clutch Grits
On the other side, the Dodgers trotted out their second consecutive multiple-Cy-Young-award winner in Blake Snell. The veteran has been around the block a few times, pitching for the Rays, Padres, and Giants before his second year in Dodger Blue. He’s been battling “loose bodies” in his left elbow and this was only his fifth start all season. Despite that, Snell was dealing, racking up ten strikeouts by the end of the fifth inning. The Tigers finally broke through in the third when Javier Báez walked (shocking, right?), and Max Clark laid down a bunt that Max Muncy at third couldn’t handle, putting two guys on. Gleyber Torres smacked a ground-rule double to score Báez and push Clark to third. Kevin McGonigle walked to load the bases with one out, but then Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia both struck out, leaving a trio of Tigers stranded. Clark showed some serious hustle in the fifth with a double to left, but Torres struck out, and Hao-Yu Lee fouled out for his third straight at-bat. McGonigle walked again, but Dingler struck out to end the threat.
What a battle, seriously! The Tigers squeaked out that 2-1 victory, but Montero’s up-and-down day and Snell’s continued return from injury leave us with plenty to chew on. You gotta wonder if Montero’s pattern is sustainable or if this was just a flash. Stay tuned for the series finale, folks, this is getting good!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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