DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Detroit scored two runs in the 11th inning and the held off Houston, 7-6, for their first win in 2023. Garrett Hill earned the save pitching the final inning giving up one run as Trey Wingenter gained the win. Six pitchers were used in the game recording just four strikeouts but held Houston to nine hits and six earned runs.
Matt Vierling was the hero of the night going 4-of-5 hitting a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to break the tie and move ahead, 7-5. Playing with the international baseball rule placing a runner on second base, Houston cut the lead to one in the bottom of the 11th but Hill had two fly outs and a fielder’s choice that scored one run. With a runner on second and two outs, Hill got Jose Abreu to pop out to the shortstop for the win.
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Detroit had nine hits in the game as Vierling had four of them with two RBI and two runs scored. Five other players had one hit as Riley Greene, Javier Baez, Spencer Torkelson had one RBI and Eric Haase added two RBI.
Detroit took a 4-0 lead with two runs in the second and fifth inning. Houston answered with four in the bottom of the fifth but Detroit retook the lead, 5-4, in the seventh. Looking to close out the game, the Tigers gave up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth as the game went to extra innings tied at five.
Matthew Boyd received the start and went 4.1 innings for the no decision with three strikeouts.
The two teams will play the second game in their three-game series on Tuesday night at 8:10 p.m. in Houston.
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