Detroit Tigers find some power, and a hit from Parker Meadows, in 7-6 loss to Chicago Cubs

Back-to-back home runs, back-to-back pitches.

The powerful swings of Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter in the sixth inning kept the Detroit Tigers within striking distance against the Chicago Cubs. Then, in the eighth, the Tigers, thanks to more production from Torkelson and Carpenter, capitalized with a three-run inning to tie the game.

But the Tigers lost to the Cubs, 7-6, in Monday's opener of a three-game series, and a 10-game homestand, at Comerica Park. Center fielder Parker Meadows, making his MLB debut, finished 1-for-5 with a single in the sixth inning.

Meadows flew out to right field with a runner on first base to end the game, after the Tigers answered two runs from the Cubs in the top of the ninth inning with one run in the bottom of the frame.

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The Tigers (57-68) trail the first-place Minnesota Twins by eight games in the American League Central.

The back-to-back pull-side homers from Torkelson and Carpenter off Cubs right-hander Javier Assad in the sixth inning showcased another glimpse into the future of the franchise and made the final three innings interesting.

Torkelson, a right-handed hitter, turned on a second-pitch sinker — located middle-inside — for a 418-foot home run to left field; Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, got ahold of a first-pitch curveball — located down-and-away — for a 404-foot home run to right-center field.

Torkelson, 23, has 23 homers in 123 games, while Carpenter, 25, has 19 homers in 82 games. Torkelson, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, is hitting .395 (17-for-43) with eight home runs, six walks and 11 strikeouts in his past 12 games.

Getting started

With one out in the sixth, Meadows ripped a two-strike fastball into right field for the first hit of his MLB career. He hit the ball with a 108.5 mph exit velocity, and his single chased Assad from his start.

The Cubs replaced Assad with right-handed reliever Hayden Wesneski, who retired back-to-back batters — Javier Báez (strikeout) and Zach McKinstry (lineout) — to strand Meadows at first base.

Meadows struck out swinging, chasing a fastball below the strike zone, in the first plate appearance of his MLB career. The 23-year-old, who logged 2,103 plate appearances in the minor leagues, stepped to the plate in the big leagues for the first time in the second inning.

Catcher Carson Kelly, making his Tigers debut, was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on offense. He was responsible for a costly mistake in the second inning, which contributed to the Cubs scoring three runs.

Carpenter building

Torkelson, who went 4-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle, was responsible for two errors at first base, including one in the second inning. But he hammered his 28th double of the season against right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer, an ex-Tiger, to open the eighth inning.

Carpenter put runners on the corners with a single, and Matt Vierling loaded the bases with a six-pitch walk. Meadows struck out looking on a 98 mph fastball outside of the strike zone, but Javier Báez took advantage of the bases loaded by shooting a first-pitch sinker into right field for a two-run double.

Báez's broken-bat shot cut the Tigers' deficit to 5-4.

A bloop single from Zach McKinstry tied the game, 5-5, and chased Fulmer from hist second appearance at Comerica Park since the Tigers traded him at the 2022 trade deadline. Right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia escaped further damage by striking out Kelly and getting Baddoo to pop out in foul territory.

The Tigers squandered the momentum (and the tie) in the top of the ninth inning, as right-handed reliever Beau Brieske gave up back-to-back doubles to Yan Gomes and Nick Madrigal to give the Cubs a 6-5 lead.

The Cubs increased their lead to 7-5 when Ian Happ grounded into a forceout.

The best three players in the Tigers' batting order — Riley Greene, Torkelson and Carpenter — then clashed with right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. in the bottom of the ninth inning. Greene grounded out, Torkelson hit an infield single, and Carpenter struck out swinging.

Vierling hit a two-out, two-strike single to score Torkelson, making it 7-6. The single putt the result of the game in the hands of Meadows, who flew out to right field on a first-pitch cutter.

Faedo's fight

The second inning wasn't kind to the Tigers.

Right-hander Alex Faedo put himself in a bad spot with a four-pitch walk to Dansby Swanson with one out, followed by a single from Seiya Suzuki.

The next batter, ex-Tiger Jeimer Candelario, reached safely on a fielding error by Torkelson. The ball scooted under Torkelson's glove and into right field. The error could have been an inning-ending double play, but instead, Swanson scored to put the Cubs ahead, 1-0.

A wild pitch by Faedo — which Kelly should have blocked — allowed Suzuki to score, making it 2-0. Gomes struck out, but with two outs, Madrigal dropped a double into left field for a 3-0 advantage.

The Cubs tacked on another run for a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. Suzuki crushed a 403-foot solo home run to left-center field off Faedo's slider that hung over the heart of the plate.

Faedo allowed four runs (two earned runs) on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts, throwing 57 of 92 pitches for strikes. The 27-year-old used 46 four-seam fastballs (50%), 35 sliders (38%) and 11 changeups (12%).

He generated nine whiffs with four fastballs, four sliders and one changeup.

Tack-on run

The Cubs took advantage of two-out hits from Happ (triple) and Cody Bellinger (single) in the eighth inning. The single from Bellinger, allowed by left-handed reliever Andrew Vasquez, pushed the Cubs' lead to 5-2.

Right-handed reliever Will Vest replaced Vasquez, only for Swanson to single and Suzuki to reach safely on a missed catch error by Torkelson. The bases were loaded for Candelario, acquired by the Cubs (from the Washington Nationals) at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Candelario struck out swinging, and Vest stranded the bases loaded.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Parker Meadows flies out with tying run on in Detroit Tigers' 7-6 loss