Phoenix – The Tigers have been living quite well so far this young season on the big inning.
Like one big inning per game.
But, as it played out Tuesday, it’s not a sustainable method of survival.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks trumped the Tigers’ one and only scoring frame with a six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth, winning 7-5 at Chase Field.
It was a magical debut for Diamondbacks rookie Jose Fernandez. He rolled an infield single in his first at-bat and homered off Casey Mize in his second.
But the capper came in the eighth. He launched a two-out, three-run homer off Kenley Jansen to erase the Tigers’ lead.
The Tigers were up 5-1 entering the inning. Reliever Drew Anderson, after striking out two in a clean seventh, gave up a double to former Tiger McCann and a single to Jordan Lawler to start the eighth.
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Will Vest was summoned with the top of the Diamondbacks’ order coming up. Vest walked Ketel Marte to load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate. Vest got two strikes on Corbin Carroll but hung a slider.
Carroll slugged a two-run double to the gap in right-center. Vest walked Geraldo Perdomo to load the bases. Still no outs.
Another run scored on a fielder’s choice. Gabriel Moreno hit a ground ball to Zach McKinstry at third. He stepped on third and tried to get the lead runner at the plate but Marte was safe.
It was 5-4 at that point, runners at first and second. Vest got the second out on a fielder’s choice ground out.
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That set the stage for Fernandez’s heroics.
Mar 31, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) reacts after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Tigers had a couple of four-run innings in the two wins in San Diego. They ripped off six runs in the seventh inning Monday, in a 9-6 loss.
And Tuesday, after starting the game with six straight outs, they erupted again for five runs in the third inning.
The Tigers have scored 25 runs this season, 19 of them came in one-inning bursts.
BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 7, Tigers 5
The big inning started innocently enough, with a one-out infield single by Parker Meadows. Jake Rogers, after fouling two balls off his foot, limped back into the batter’s box and drove an RBI double to the wall in center.
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Colt Keith followed with a single, sending Rogers to third where he scored on an infield single by Kevin McGonigle.
Capping the barrage, Riley Greene blasted a two-run double to the gap in right-center and Kerry Carpenter, moved down to the fifth spot in the order, lined an RBI single to right.
All that damage came against Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt. And that was the only inning he allowed any damage.
He faced the minimum three hitters in the five other innings he worked, allowing only a walk, which was erased in a double-play.
Certainly more sustained offense would be more optimal, though it looked like it was more than enough for Mize.
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Mixing dastardly splitters with his two fastballs and two sliders, he carved up a lefty-heavy Diamondbacks offense. He allowed four hits in his six innings, with nine strikeouts. Seven of the punch-outs came off his splitter.
He threw 28 of them and got nine whiffs on 17 swings. One of the two splitters put in play resulted in an inning-ended double-play in the third.
Mize was in trouble just one time, in the second. Moreno led off with a double. Mize responded by striking out Alex Thomas with a splitter. Fernandez rolled an infield single.
Mize responded by striking out Carlos Santana with a splitter.
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McCann worked a walk to load the bases. Mize responded by striking out Lawler with, you guessed it, a splitter.
The Diamondbacks hit three balls to the outfield in Mize’s six innings. One was the first home run by Fernandez.
Mize deserved a better fate.
Former Tiger Paul Sewald, as if rubbing salt in the wound, earned his second straight save at the Tigers’ expense. He struck out the side in the ninth.
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers failed to protect a 5-0 lead against the Diamondbacks