DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a double and triple in his major league return and the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 4-0 on Saturday.
Torkelson, who turns 25 on Aug. 26, had a .201 batting average and four home runs when he was demoted to Triple-A on June 2. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft was named to the first team this weekend along with Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney, two of Detroit’s most promising infield talents.
“It was a really fun game and, my goodness, it’s great to be back,” Torkelson said.
Tigers right-hander Keider Montero (4-5) struck out five times in five innings in his 10th career start, allowing two hits in his third straight win.
“He’s got really good stuff — he’s just got weapons,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “It’s not just his fastball and slider — his changeup has gotten better — and when you put those together, he’s very effective.”
Tyler Holton followed Montero with three innings. Jason Foley finished the game with four hits, evading Aaron Judge’s leadoff double in the ninth inning.
“They kept us in check – even yesterday we got lucky and hit a couple of balls out of the park,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “This is a team that has been very good at preventing runs, and they had to come up with some creative ways to do that.”
Yankees starter Carlos Rodón (13-8) conceded four runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
“I didn’t have what it takes to get an A, but I have to be better,” he said. “I put the boys down 4-0 in the second game.”
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Colt Keith and scored three more runs in the second.
Torkelson hit a leadoff double. Rodón retired the next two batters, but Zach McKinstry hit an RBI single and Matt Vierling worked a walk. Andy Ibáñez then hit a two-run double to left.
“They really challenged him with some really long at-bats,” Boone said. “He couldn’t put guys away with two strikes, so it was foul ball, foul ball, foul ball, and then they took advantage of an error over the plate.”
Torkelson hit a triple to start the sixth inning, but was ejected at home while attempting to advance on a missed throw.
“I thought I had read the piece perfectly, but it was wet and my hand got stuck underneath me,” he said.
Next
The Yankees and Tigers fly quickly to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to finish the three-game series Sunday night at the Little League World Series. Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (14-4, 2.53 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Marcus Stroman (8-6, 4.01 ERA).
Subscribe to our News 10 Newsletter And YouTube page to get the latest local news and weather. Do you want to hire employees or grow your business through advertising? Gray Digital Media is your complete marketing solution. Learn more.
All rights reserved.
