Detroit Tigers rally with homers, but fall to Braves, 6-5, in Game 2 of doubleheader
The ball was flying in Wednesday's doubleheader.
In Game 2, the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves combined for six home runs — for a total of 11 homers in the doubleheader — to conclude the three-game series at Comerica Park. The Tigers showed consistent power swings for the first time this season, but they ended up on the losing end of both games, including a 6-5 final in Game 2.
WHAT HE SEES: Tigers' Scott Harris details 'progress' team's made at Detroit Economic Club event
INJURIES IN MINORS: Tigers' Ryan Kreidler undergoes another surgery; Jackson Jobe throws to hitters
With the doubleheader sweep, the Tigers (27-39) have dropped 11 of 12 games heading into a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins (35-33) own the best record in the American League Central.
As for Game 2 of Wednesday's twinbill, the Braves took their final lead in the sixth inning when Eddie Rosario hit right-hander Michael Lorenzen's changeup for a solo home run to right-center.
Lorenzen, who entered Wednesday with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts, allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts across six innings. His ERA jumped to 4.23 as a result of the struggles in his 11th start.
The Braves hit three home runs off Lorenzen, but the most impressive occurred in the third inning when Ronald Acuña Jr. clobbered an 81.8 mph sweeper down the middle with a 114.5 mph exit velocity.
The ball traveled 461 feet to center, hitting high off the batters' eye below the center-field fountain.
It was one of the most impressive homers in Comerica Park history.
Ronald Acuña HR.
⭐️: https://t.co/W6qzMwejkW pic.twitter.com/PnaUfRdXLR— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 14, 2023
Power from Tigers
The Tigers kept the game interesting, despite their poor lineup, by cranking three home runs off left-hander Dylan Dodd. The Braves promoted Dodd as the 27th player for the doubleheader.
The rookie allowed five runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
In the third inning, Andy Ibáñez put the Tigers on the scoreboard — trailing 3-1 — with a solo home run off Dodd's 90.9 mph fastball. He hit the elevated fastball 420 feet, clearing the bullpens in left field.
WAITING FOR THE CALL: Can top prospect Colt Keith help the Tigers? He explains 'career-changing' swing adjustment
OLD FRIEND: Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin: 'I would have been happy to come back' to Tigers
In the fourth, Matt Vierling crushed Dodd's fourth-pitch 91.3 mph fastball for a solo home run to left, trimming the Tigers' deficit to 5-2. The right-handed hitter has sent three of his five homers to the pull side this season.
After Vierling's long ball, the Tigers kept the momentum going with Jonathan Schoop's single and Miguel Cabrera's walk. Then, Jake Rogers jumped a first-pitch slider for a 360-foot three-run home run to left.
The three-run shot tied the game, 5-5.
Rogers, hitting .175 in 42 games, leads the Tigers with nine home runs, ahead of Spencer Torkelson (seven homers) and Nick Maton (six). Vierling, Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry are tied for fourth with five homers.
Reliable relievers
Both bullpens kept the other team scoreless following Rosario's go-ahead home run.
As the Braves posted zeros, the Tigers received scoreless efforts from right-hander Jason Foley in the seventh, righty José Cisnero in the eighth and left-hander Chasen Shreve in the ninth.
LIFE WITHOUT GREENE: Tigers, searching for batting answers, know they must 'scratch and claw' for runs
'WE MISS YOU': Tigers' Riley Greene elated to rejoin teammates at Comerica Park, talks recovery process from injury
The Tigers faced ex-Tiger Joe Jiménez in the bottom of the ninth inning.
He retired Cabrera (strikeout) and Rogers (401-foot flyout to center field) before left-handed reliever A.J. Minter entered to face Maton. But the Tigers pinch-hit Eric Haase, a right-handed hitter, to get the best matchup.
But Haase struck out swinging to end the game.
Jiménez, a right-handed reliever, also tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Braves. Righty Collin McHugh covered the fifth, sixth and seventh innings with perfection (and four strikeouts).
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lose to Atlanta Braves, 6-5, despite home runs
