Just a day after Justin Verlander drained the energy from Comerica Park with a nostalgically dominating performance, the Detroit Tigers rebounded with a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins. Spencer Torkelson played the hero, launching a towering two-run homer in the eighth inning, marking his second home run in as many days and propelling the Tigers to a thrilling win.

Early Lead, Missed Opportunities

The Tigers built an early lead in the second inning, capitalizing on a walk, an error, and three singles to scratch across three runs. However, momentum shifted dramatically in the fourth inning. With two outs, Zach McKinstry, who had walked earlier, attempted to turn a steal of second into a dash for home after an errant throw and a mishandled recovery by Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. The aggressive play backfired, as Chisholm recovered quickly to throw McKinstry out at home, ending the inning and stifling the Tigers’ momentum.

Marlins Fight Back

The Marlins responded in the top of the fifth, erasing the Tigers’ early lead with three runs off Detroit starter Matt Manning. Despite a strong start, Manning and the Tigers found themselves in a deadlock, with the game tied at 3-3 entering the late innings.

Alex Faedo, who had been solid in relief, maintained the tie until the eighth inning. However, after retiring the first two batters, he surrendered a two-strike single to Nick Gordon. Otto Lopez then capitalized on a hanging slider, driving it 404 feet for a two-run homer that put the Marlins ahead 5-3.

Torkelson’s Clutch Moment

The Tigers refused to fold. In the bottom of the eighth, Wenceel Perez doubled, and Andy Ibáñez followed with a single, cutting the deficit to one run. With two outs, Torkelson stepped up in a high-pressure situation. After falling behind 1-2 and battling through several sliders from Marlins reliever Anthony Maldonado, Torkelson connected on a middle-in slider. His 446-foot blast was a moonshot that not only put the Tigers ahead 6-5 but also electrified the Comerica Park crowd.

Jason Foley took the mound in the ninth and efficiently retired the side in order, securing his 10th save of the season. Matt Manning’s start, while not flawless, was gutsy, as he allowed three runs over 5⅔ innings, striking out five on 81 pitches. This win marked Detroit’s 13th come-from-behind victory of the season.

This victory serves as a significant rebound for the Tigers, especially following the disappointment against the Astros and the previous road trip. Torkelson’s late-game heroics, following his first home run of the season, suggest a timely return to form for the young slugger, potentially igniting the Tigers’ lineup.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers, now sitting at a 21-20 record, look to build on this momentum in the remaining two games against the Marlins at Comerica Park. This series presents an opportunity for Detroit to climb above .500 and position themselves strongly in their division.

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For more from our Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions beat writer, Matt Broder, check him out on Twitter here: @mattbro21

Contact: Broder@woodwardsports.com

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Original Photo Credit: ©  Rick Osentoski – USA TODAY Sports