Brutal Framber Valdez first inning buries Detroit Tigers in Chicago
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CHICAGO – The Detroit Tigers' maddening flaw showed up once again.
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They just couldn't get the big hit at the big time, as the Chicago White Sox held on for a 3-1 win over the Tigers at Rate Field to open a four-game series on Thursday, Sept.17.
The Tigers had plenty of chances against the White Sox. The Tigers crushed three balls off the left-field fence but got nothing out of it. Nine times, they came to the plate with runners in scoring position; they failed to score every time.
It was the 13th straight time the Tigers lost a two-run or less game against an American League Central team on the road. Yes, that’s how you fail to make the playoffs.
And it was even more maddening because of what seemed like a fantastic situation. This game featured two teams seemingly headed in different directions. The White Sox came into the game holding the final wild-card spot in the American League, even though they had lost seven of their past nine games and 12 of 17 to fall out of the Central lead.
Meanwhile, the Tigers had won six of their last seven, even though they came into this series five games behind the White Sox with Texas, Toronto and Baltimore wedged between them.
Instead, the Tigers' loss reduced their "tragic number" – the total of opposing wins and Tigers losses needed for elimination – to three in both the AL Central and the race for the final AL wild-card spot, with current wild-card holder Cleveland idle on Thursday.
Last year, just to remember, the Tigers went 11-3 in games decided by two runs or less on the road in the division.
On the mound: Tigers hurt by walks and sloppiness
There is one sure way to lose a baseball game: Play sloppy defense and walk folks.
And that’s how the White Sox took a quick 3-0 first-inning lead.
After the Tigers committed three errors in a 5-1 loss to Toronto on Wednesday night, they started off the first game of this four-game series with some more sloppiness.
Left-hander Framber Valdez got the start for the Tigers and Chase Meidroth led off the game by hitting a grounder to Kevin McGonigle at third base – a play he hasmade repeatedly this season – but he couldn’t grab the ball cleanly. Meidroth was given a hit, which was highly debatable. Then, Tommy Pham walked, which presented a stressful moment early. Munetaka Murakami made Valdez pay, jacking a three-run homer over the center-field fence. It was his 32nd of the season, despite a .100 stretch (9-for-90) over his past 28 days.
In the fourth inning, the sloppy defense returned. McGonigle had an error, as the White Sox put runners on first and second. But McGonigle ended the inning when he fielded a ground ball and threw out Meidroth.
To be fair, McGonigle made an absolutely outstanding play in the fifth inning, taking a step to his left, diving for a grounder from Miguel Vargas, snagging it on the dive and popping up and throwing him out.
And Javier Báez, at shortstop, made an incredible catch in the seventh, running away from the infield, juggling the ball and grabbing it with a smile.
So it wasn't all sloppiness. Just enough to lose the game.
At the plate: Tigers wasted chances
The Tigers loaded the bases off White Sox mistakes in the third inning. Max Clark was hit by a pitch, John Peck singled and McGonigle walked. Gleyber Torres grounded out to third but the run scored, 3-1.
But that was all they could get out of it.
Righty Erick Fedde got the start for the White Sox and he took a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning. The Tigers knocked him out of the game after Torres crushed a ball that bounced to the left-field fence, then Dillon Dingler doubled to left.
Two great hits – but they couldn’t get a run out of it.
So, the White Sox brought in Bryan Hudson to face Riley Greene with guys on second and third and two outs. And Hudson struck him out to end the threat.
It was more of the same in the top of the sixth when Spencer Torkelson ripped a ball into the left-field corner but he was thrown out at second by left fielder Randal Grichuk.
A great hit. A painful ending.
Yes, it was that kind of night for the Tigers.
The Tigers had yet another chance in the seventh inning. They had guys on first nad second with Dillon Dingler at the plate. So, the White Sox brought in Grant Taylor and Dingler grounded out.
In the eighth inning, there was a wild play and the White Sox got Brett Callahan out at third, a call that was overturned to end a threat.
Next up: Sears catalogue arrives
Lefty Andrew Sears (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will get the start for the Tigers in Game 2 of the Tigers' final road series of the season, on Friday (7:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). Righty David Sandline (2-2, 5.64) will go for the White Sox.
Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected]. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Brutal Framber Valdez first inning buries Detroit Tigers in Chicago