CLEVELAND — Casey Mize threw seven shutout innings and Spencer Torkelson delivered the only offense as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
The Tigers (56-34) have taken the first two games of the series against the Guardians (40-47), who have now lost eight straight.
Mize allowed just four hits, walked two, and struck out four in one of his strongest outings of the season.
With the Tigers’ bullpen depleted and closer Will Vest having pitched in back-to-back games, manager A.J. Hinch turned to lefty Brant Hurter in the eighth. Hurter responded with a 1-2-3 inning.
The Tigers missed a critical chance to extend the lead in the top of the ninth when they loaded the bases against reliever Tim Herrin, who walked two batters and hit another. But Torkelson bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Hinch turned to Tommy Kahnle to pitch the ninth. The biggest threat came first: José RamÃrez led off the inning, but Kahnle induced a flyout and survived the inning to earn a high-pressure save.
Torkelson had provided the only run of the game in the second inning with a solo homer off Guardians starter Logan Allen. It was his 20th home run of the season — doubling his 2024 total in about 30 fewer plate appearances.
Torkelson and Riley Greene are the first Tigers duo to hit 20 home runs before the All-Star break since Mickey Tettleton and Cecil Fielder in 1993.
Tigers All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres left Saturday’s game in the first inning after being hit in the head while sliding into second base. The team’s initial update said he suffered a neck contusion.
This story will be updated.
Up next: The Tigers and Guardians wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at 1:40 p.m.
Tigers ace lefty Tarik Skubal (10-2, 2.15 ERA) will face Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (5-4, 3.86).
Skubal last pitched here in Game 5 of the AL Division Series last October when Lane Thomas’ grand slam in the fifth inning knocked the Tigers out of the playoffs.
The Tigers struggled against Williams last season, managing just three runs and striking out 22 times across his three starts (16 1/3 innings).
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