Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics: Recap of 5-4 Opening Day win

Opening Day in Detroit has come and gone, and the Detroit Tigers were victorious.

The Tigers made their Comerica Park debut for the 2024 season against the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers got off to a hot start this season on the road, sweeping the Chicago White Sox and then winning 2 of 3 games against the Mets in the first two series of the season and continued that at home.

CHECK OUT THE LINEUP: Detroit Tigers Opening Day: Riley Greene hitting cleanup, Skubal on the mound

The Tigers got a strong start from ace Tarik Skubal despite his three home runs, and with some timely hits, beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-4.

Find a recap of the Tigers' 2024 home opener below:

Tigers vs. Athletics recap from home opener

Bullpen shuts the door, TIGERS WIN!

For a while, it looked like the Tigers may cruise to a victory, but some big-time hits from the Athletics made things interesting. Ultimately, thanks to another strong bullpen day with zero earned runs, the Tigers came out on top, beating the Athletics on Opening Day to move to 6-1. Manager A.J. Hinch mixed things up, going with Jason Foley in the eighth inning, and then calling upon Andrew Chafin to enter the game. Chafin walked two ba.tters and got two outs before being pulled for Alex Lange. The sometimes-wild righty came into the game and delivered with a big-time strikeout. The score: Tigers win, 5-4.

Urshela breaks tie with clutch double

Timing is everything in baseball. And this Tigers team has shown they have a knack for it in the small sample size we've seen. With the game tied 4-4, first baseman Spencer Torkelson delivered with a ripped double down the left field line to get into scoring position. Riley Greene and Mark Canha weren't able to move Torkelson over, both striking out, but Gio Urshela came through big time with another double, this one down the right field line to give the Tigers the lead heading into the ninth inning. The score: Tigers 5, Athletics 4.

Comedians Tim Robinson, Sam Richardson sing (sort of) during seventh-inning stretch at Tigers game

I Think You Should Leave the Tigers with the lead, Oakland. Comedians Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson, both Michigan natives and former stars of the show "Detroiters" on Comedy Central, joined the Tigers to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. The problem was, they didn't do too much singing. The duo did the countdown to the classic baseball tune, but then didn't sing along on the microphone. The two comedians have become staples at Detroit sports games over the years, and couldn't miss the chance to see the Tigers with their best start in years.

A's get Skubal again as he exits the game

Tarik Skubal was not happy with his performance, throwing his glove in frustration after being pulled from the game in the seventh inning. Skubal was pulled after giving up a second home run, this time to Abraham Toro to make it 4-3, and then issuing a walk to JJ Bleday. Relief pitcher Will Vest entered the game and immediately gave up a double to Ryan Noda, a pinch hitter. The A's drove in the run on a routine groundball to second, tying the game. The score: 4-4.

Mark Canha gives the Tigers some cushion

There are home runs. And then there are no-doubter home runs. Mark Canha just hit the latter. After the Athletics made it just a one-score game with a home run of their own off Skubal, Canha came to the plate and blasted a 414-foot homer to left field, expanding the Tigers' lead. As soon as he connected with the ball, Canha stared down his bench. He knew: that thing was long gone. The score: 4-2.

Athletics get on the board

Skubal got rolling again in the sixth inning with a ground out to second base, but then gave up a double to Zach Gelof. After striking out J.D. Davis, Brent Rooker came up to the plate and hammered a pitch from Skubal to left field, giving the A's their first runs of the game and tightening things up in Detroit. We've got a ball game. The score: 3-2.

The seal has been broken

Just like the many folks enjoying some late morning or early afternoon beverages at Comerica Park for the Opening Day festivities, the Detroit Tigers have broken the seal. It all started of course with Vierling's home run, but Andy Ibáñez kept it going with a hard ground ball towards third base for an infield single. Spencer Torkelson kept the fun going with a ripped double into left field, scoring Ibáñez and then Riley Greene got a base hit, driving it Torkelson. Let the fun continue. The score: 3-0.

How do you break a tie? With pizza of course!

Things were getting a little stale (pun intended) at Comerica Park, with both teams struggling to get the bats going. That is until the Bally Sports Detroit broadcast brought in some pizza to their broadcast booth, an ode to new announcer Jason Benetti, after he was honored with a Chicago-style pizza during his visit to the White Sox. Almost instantly, Matt Vierling ripped a line drive to left field that snuck over the wall and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It was of course ironic because Vierling's home run brought out the Tigers' new pizza home run celebration that they introduced to start the year. Only in baseball, right? The score: 1-0.

That's six strikeouts already for Skubal

If you're keeping track at home, that six Ks for Tarik Skubal through four innings. All of his pitches look sharp, particuarly the changeup, making some Athletics hitters look silly. It could be a long day for the A's. The score: 0-0.

Hopefully you like pitching

Through the third inning, there has been just one hit, two total baserunners and no walks. The Tigers have been hitting some bullets at the plate, including a 107 mph exit velocity line drive from catcher Jake Rogers, according to the broadcast, but it went right to Athletics shortstop Nick Allen. No dice. The score: 0-0.

Bats still cold

The Tigers are still waiting for their bats to warm up. After letting a no-hit bid from Matt Manning and the bullpen slip away Thursday because they could only muster one run in Game 2, the Tigers were held hitless through the first two innings. Mark Canha got on base in the second inning after being hit by a pitch, but Gio Urshela promptly grounded into a double play, ending the inning. The score: 0-0

Quick work for Skubal in first inning

There won't be a no-hitter threat like Thursday in New York, but Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal didn't exactly have to sweat in the first inning, either. Skubal got weak groundouts from the first two Athletics batters, then gave up a single to right center field to Brent Rooker before striking out Shea Langeliers to end the inning. The score: 0-0

First pitch!

They always say Penei Sewell may be the best athlete on the Detroit Lions. I mean, a big man moving like he does doesn't come around very often. And Friday afternoon, he probably helped his case. Sewell, never one to hide his emotions, walked to the Tigers' mound and let out a Lion-esque roar before delivering a pitch that may have just been ruled a strike with a very, very generous umpire. It wasn't perfect, but compared to some of the first pitches we've seen over the years from 50 Cent or John Wall, it was pretty darn good.

It just means more. Ask the fans

Opening Day traditions were in full force at Vivio's in Eastern Market on Friday morning.

It was shortly after Opening Day last year that the Blasch family lost the man who started their baseball traditions. Brothers Brendan and Matt Blasch came to love baseball as kids in Cincinnatti thanks to their dad, Paul.

They followed Reds manger Sparky Anderson and when the family moved to Detroit , they picked up their loyalty to Anderson when he started managing the Tigers, becoming nearly lifelong Detroit baseball fans. The family has been coming to Opening Day since 1988.

“If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be here today,” Matt Blasch, 53, said of his dad Paul. “We miss him dearly.”

At their table near the door, lunch fare paired with coffee, water and beer, as Ryan Rodau, 57, joined his cousins, for his first Opening Day.

-Eric Guzmán

Tigers arrive for Opening Day

After playing two games yesterday in New York and then flying back to the Mitten State, the Tigers players have arrived at the ballpark for the inaugral game this year at Comerica Park. Many of the Tigers have been on the road since mid-Februrary when spring training started and then flew directly to Chicago, followed by New York. Thursday was supposed to be a day to get set up at home, but those plans changed after a pair of rainouts, leading to a tight turnaround.

Are we really surprised? It's snowing before the game

A tradition unlike any other. It's snowing before the Tigers' Opening Day game against the Athletics.

Welcome, Jason!

Debatably the Tigers' biggest offseason signing was in the broadcast booth. Jason Benetti is a national broadcaster who calls college football and basketball games for Fox and previously worked for ESPN. He's spent the last several baseball seasons working for the White Sox, but the Tigers convinced him to come across the division. Friday is his first Opening Day game in Detroit, and fans are already latching on.

Video board is talk of town

It's hard not to talk about the gigantic new video board the Tigers have installed in left field. Photos and videos have been streaming out for a few weeks now, but Friday is the first time to see how it's used in game action

What channel is Tigers vs. Athletics on today? How to watch live, stream

TV Channel: Bally Sports Detroit

Stream: Bally Sports app, Fubo, MLB TV if you are out of state

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

MORE TV OPTIONS: Watch the Tigers live all season long on Fubo (free trial)

Tigers vs. Athletics start time and location

First pitch: 1:10 p.m.

Location: Comerica Park in Detroit

Tigers vs. Athletics weather forecast

The weather forecast is what you'd expect for a Tigers home opener — chilly and cloudy. The National Weather Service says the high for Friday is 45 degrees, but luckily for fans, it looks like there won't be any rain and snow during the game. Wind gusts are expected to be in the 11-14 mph range and can get as high as 22 mph. Break out your old English D jackets to stay warm.

Tigers vs. Athletics odds, betting line, spread

Opening game lines and odds from BetMGM:

Spread: Tigers -1.5.

Moneyline: Tigers -225, Athletics +185

Over/Under: 7.5 runs.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics: Recap of 5-4 Opening Day win