Live updates - Tigers lead 3-0 over Cards with Dingler, Greene offense on Detroit Opening Day
FOX 2 - The Tigers are looking to snap a four-game skid with starting pitcher Framber Valdez on the mound.
The Cardinals countered with Michael McGreevy on the rubber. McGreevy was relieved after five and two-third innings, allowing seven hits with four strikeouts and two earned runs, giving way to Justin Bruihl.
6th inning
The Cardinals: Valedez sat the visitors down 1-2-3 with two ground outs and a foul out.
5th inning
The Tigers: Kevin McGonigle roped a lead off double to left field. The rookie was thrown out on a fielder's choice that allowed Gleyber Torres to reach first base. Kerry Carpenter hit a single to put runners at the corners.
With two on and two out, Greene hit an RBI single, to score Torres - for a 3-0 lead. Dingler flew out to retire the side.
The Cardinals: St. Louis stranded Ivan Herrera who reached base with a two-out walk, but Framber Valdez got a ground out from Alec Burleson to end the top of the inning.
4th inning
The Tigers: Dillon Dingler hit a two-run home run to left center field for a 2-0 lead. The hit scored Riley Greene who reached with a stand-up double. Zach McKinistry singled to right field but the threat ended with a strikeout from Spencer Torkelson and a ground out from Parker Meadows.
The Cardinals: Valdez gave up a leadoff single, then rallied with back-to-back strikeouts. An error at first base by Valdez allowed a second runner aboard after he dropped a ball by him from Spencer Torkelson. A walk loaded the bases but Valdez escaped the jam with a flyout.
3rd inning
The Tigers: Javier Baez was gunned down at the plate after reaching with a single, and steal of second base with two outs. The bang-bang play happened on a Gleyber Torres single, but Baez was tagged out, keeping the game scoreless.
The Cardinals: Valdez was touched for two hits but slammed the door with a strikeout of Thomas Saggese with runners at the corners.
2nd inning
The Tigers: Strikeouts by Darren Digler and Spencer Torkelson were sandwiched around groundout from Zach McKinstry.
The Cardinals: In the top of the inning, no hits, no runs and Valdez got his second strikeout of the game in the second.
1st inning
The Tigers: Kerry Carpenter hit a two-out single off the wall in right field but was stranded by a fly out from Riley Greene.
The Cardinals: Valdez got through the order 1-2-3 with a strikeout.
The backstory:
The Detroit Tigers open a three-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals today at Comerica Park.
The Tigers are looking to snap a four-game skid with starting pitcher Framber Valdez on the mound.
One of the biggest stories is the debut of rookie third baseman Kevin McGonigle who is also hitting at a .364 clip with five RBIs.
Today, McGonigle is batting lead off in today's lineup.
Detroit had an 87-75 record overall and a 46-35 record in home games last season.
The Tigers averaged 8.3 hits per game last season while batting a collective .247 and slugging .413.
St. Louis had a 78-84 record overall and a 34-47 record in road games last season.
The Cardinals pitching staff had a 4.29 ERA collectively last season while averaging 7.6 strikeouts and 2.9 walks per nine innings.
Today's game is one of 10 that FOX 2 is carrying this season. Check below for the rest.
