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Detroit Tigers finally find runs, still swept by Yankees after 5-4 loss in 10 innings

NEW YORK — The Detroit Tigers nearly stranded leadoff hitter Willi Castro at second base in the eighth inning.

After Castro's double to right field, the next two batters were retired, but the highest-paid players on the roster — Miguel Cabrera and Javier Báez — stepped up with back-to-back RBI singles. Those runs gave the Tigers a lead for the second time in Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees.

But the Yankees, also known as the best team in baseball, clawed their way back. The Tigers' efforts were spoiled in a 5-4 loss, as the Yankees swept the three game series in the Bronx in walk-off fashion.

"I just think they outplayed us at the end of the game," manager A.J. Hinch said. "They out-executed us. They're a winning team. At the end of the game, it gets even more magnified when you run into outs or miss some opportunities."

The Tigers (21-33) also lost 13-0 Friday and 3-0 Saturday. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario left Sunday's loss in the bottom of the second inning with a left shoulder injury.

INJURY TO INSULT: Tigers 3B Jeimer Candelario leaves game with left shoulder injury

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SATURDAY'S SUFFERING: Tigers held to one hit by Luis Severino in 3-0 loss to Yankees

Facing left-handed closer Gregory Soto for the second straight inning, the Yankees earned their 39th victory in 54 games this season with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Josh Donaldson — scoring free extra-innings runner Aaron Judge — in the bottom of the 10th inning.

"When you get into extra innings and don't score in the 10th," Hinch said, "it puts you in a really tough spot."

The Tigers failed to score off righty Michael King in the top half of the frame. Derek Hill (foul bunt), Willi Castro (swinging) and Spencer Torkelson (swinging) all struck out to strand Eric Haase at second.

Neither team scored in the ninth.

In the eighth, the Yankees tied the game on a pair of Tigers miscues.

Right-hander Michael Fulmer hit Anthony Rizzo with a two-strike curveball to start the bottom of the eighth. Rizzo stole second base and advanced to third base on a fielding error by Jonathan Schoop. He came around to score on a fielder's choice, a play in which Harold Castro was charged with a throwing error.

The Tigers had a 4-3 lead, thanks to RBI singles from Cabrera and Báez in the top of the eighth. Cabrera finished 3-for-3 with one walk and one RBI; Báez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one strikeout.

"He doesn't try to do too much," Hinch said of Cabrera. "A lot of hitters on our team and around the league can take notice. He plays the game, he moves the ball forward, he can hit with two strikes, he takes whatever he gets, he never really concedes. Even when he swings and misses, he doesn't waver."

Right-hander Rony García, making his third start for the Tigers, completed five innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts, throwing 46 of 71 pitches for strikes.

García and the Tigers briefly appeared to execute an inning-ending double play in the fifth, courtesy of García's strikeout and Haase's strong throw to cut down a runner attempting to steal second base. But, replay review overturned the caught-stealing call on the field.

The next batter, Gallo, crushed a two-out, two-run home run to tie the game. He smashed García's 3-1 sinker over the wall in left-center field.

"It's hard to beat these guys 2-0, so you're not counting outs at that point against this team," Hinch said. "Near miss on the throw out at second base, and they get new life, and Gallo puts one in the seats. ... He's dangerous. This whole lineup is dangerous."

Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery countered with 6⅓ innings of two-run ball on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Right-handed reliever Clarke Schmidt replaced him with one out in the seventh.

Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (24) celebrates with Harold Castro after scoring off an RBI double by Javier Baez in the fourth inning Sunday, June 5, 2022, in New York.
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (24) celebrates with Harold Castro after scoring off an RBI double by Javier Baez in the fourth inning Sunday, June 5, 2022, in New York.

Yankees battle back

In the seventh inning, the Yankees grabbed a one-run advantage.

Right-handed reliever Alex Lange, in his second inning of work, walked DJ LeMahieu on four pitches with two outs and the bases loaded. LeMahieu simply watched as Lange missed the strike zone with three sinkers and one curveball.

"He's one of our best pitchers," Hinch said. "The walk, he threw some non-competitive pitches. ... We're just trying to win the game. We have our best relievers in the game against the top of their order."

The messy situation began with Gleyber Torres hitting Lange's first-pitch curveball for a leadoff single. Aaron Hicks flied out to center field, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled on a grounder to Báez.

Báez seemingly attempted to turn an inning-ending double play.

"I don't know," Hinch said. "Maybe he thought he rounded the base a little bit or caught him in the corner of his eye. We have a different angle from it in watching it, but I'm not sure what he saw."

But the former Gold Glove winner might not have realized Torres had dashed for second on the pitch, meaning he was already on the base when Báez looked to touch the bag with his foot in hopes of starting a double play.

Torkelson, the first baseman, said Báez tried to trick Torres.

"I like the aggressiveness, trying to deke him out and trying to get him at second base," Torkelson said. "There's no problem there."

Báez, after failing to get Torres, didn't have enough time to throw out Kiner-Falefa at first base.

"It would have been bang-bang," Torkelson said. "But he wanted that lead out."

There were two runners on with one out for pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter, a left-handed hitter. He drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Joey Gallo, a lefty who entered the game hitting .191 against righties, struck out on three sinkers for the second out.

That's when Lange walked LeMahieu on four pitches, giving the Yanks a 3-2 lead.

To avoid further damage, Fulmer replaced Lange to face Judge. He struck out Judge on three pitches to strand the bases loaded.

Lange threw 31 pitches.

Tigers' Javier Baez hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Yankees, Sunday, June 5, 2022, in New York.
Tigers' Javier Baez hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Yankees, Sunday, June 5, 2022, in New York.

Snapping the drought

The Tigers scored two runs in the fourth inning, snapping a 21-inning scoreless streak.

To set up the first run, Cabrera worked a one-out walk. Báez, hitting .198 over 43 games, stepped to the plate amid a 0-for-11 slump, but he delivered by crushing a third-pitch changeup in the strike zone.

Báez's hit traveled into the left-center gap for a double, and Cabrera was determined to score from first base. He chugged around third and slid into home, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0, as the throw home was cut off by the pitcher.

For the second run in the fourth, Daz Cameron scored Báez from third base with a two-out single into center field. The ball deflected off the glove of Torres, the Yankees' second baseman.

Haase struck out swinging to end the fourth. He also struck out looking in the second inning, stranding two runners in scoring position, though he drew a walk in the seventh.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers finally find runs, still swept by Yankees, 5-4