Spencer Torkelson homers with 3 hits to lead Tigers over Astros 6-3

Associated PressApr 4, 2023, 11:37 PM EDT
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HOUSTON — Spencer Torkelson tied a career high with three hits, highlighted by a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers over the Houston Astros 6-3.

The Tigers, who got a 7-6 victory in 11 innings , have won two games against the Astros after being swept by the Rays in their opening series.

Detroit led by 1 with one out in the eighth when Riley Greene tied a career high with his third hit of the night on a single to center. Torkelson followed with his soaring shot that bounced high on the center field wall to make it 5-2.

Matt Manning (1-0) yielded six hits with two walks and two runs in 5 2/3 innings in his season debut.

Houston starter Framber Valdez (0-1) allowed eight hits and three runs – two earned – with nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Kyle Tucker homered with two hits and two RBIs for the World Series champion Astros, who fell to 2-4.

The score was tied with one out in the sixth when Greene hit an infield single. Torkelson singled before both players advanced on a passed ball by catcher Martín Maldonado. Detroit took a 3-2 lead when Greene scored on a groundout by Eric Haase.

Greene also had a big night on defense, likely robbing Yordan Alvarez of extra bases when he made a diving catch in center field for the first out of the sixth inning.

Torkelson’s RBI double with two outs in the first gave Detroit a 1-0 lead.

Alex Bregman walked with one out in the bottom of the inning before a one-out single by José Abreu. Tucker then singled to left field to send Bregman home and tie it at 1-all.

There was one out in the first when Matt Vierling walked before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Greene singled on a grounder to left field with two outs.

Vierling attempted to score on the play, but Alvarez’s throw home was just in time for Martín Maldonado to tag him at the plate to end the inning.

Houston took the lead when Tucker smacked his second homer of the season to the seats in right-center to start the fourth.

Jonathan Schoop singled with no outs in the fifth before another wild pitch by Valdez sent him to second. Jake Rogers singled to score Schoop and tie it at 2-2.

An RBI double by Vierling drove in a run with two outs in the ninth.

PUSHED BACK

The start of Houston’s series at Minnesota has been postponed from Thursday until Friday because of inclement weather expected in the area. The Astros were supposed to open the series Thursday before continuing it after a day off Friday.

UP NEXT

Detroit’s Eduardo Rodriguez (0-1, 5.06 ERA) opposes Cristian Javier (0-0, 5.40) when the series wraps up Wednesday. —

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Orioles sign OF Aaron Hicks, put Cedric Mullins on 10-day IL with groin strain

Associated PressMay 31, 2023, 11:07 AM EDT
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”