Through the first few games of the season, the Tigers’ bats haven’t exactly been explosive.
But we may now know the key to success for the Tigers’ offense: extra innings.
Monday night at Citi Field in New York, Detroit went off for five runs in the 10th inning, their only runs of the game. After two days of rainouts, Detroit put up three runs in the 11th to take the first game of a doubleheader from the Mets, 6-3.
Detroit scored single runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings, that last of which was a game-tying solo home run from Riley Greene.
Colt Keith gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead with his first career double in the top of the 11th, and Gio Urshela delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to extend the lead.
Making his return from Tommy John surgery, Casey Mize allowed three runs on five hits across 4.1 innings in his first start in nearly two years.
The bullpen kept up its strong start to the season, including Shelby Miller, who struck out four Mets across the two extra innings, earning his second win.
Matt Manning was called up from Toledo to start the second game of Thursday’s twinbill.
The Tigers — 5-0 for the first time since the 2015 season — will return to Detroit Friday for their home opener, with Tarik Skubal taking the mound against the Athletics.