Spencer Torkelson is back in the home run column, and the Detroit Tigers are making Comerica Park feel like a fortress. On Sunday night, the Tigers rolled past the Texas Rangers 7-1, improving to a perfect 5-0 in home series this season.
After a historic five-game homer streak that tied a franchise record, Torkelson had gone quiet for five games. But he broke the silence in spectacular fashion, crushing a hanging slider from Jack Leiter deep over the left field wall for a two-run shot. The blast came after Torkelson fell behind 0-2, showing the kind of disciplined power that has made him a cornerstone of Detroit's lineup.
The Tigers didn't stop there. Kevin McGonigle delivered two RBI singles, the first coming in the sixth inning to drive in Jake Rogers, who had led off with a triple that bounced past center fielder Evan Carter. Matt Vierling added a two-run bloop double during a four-run seventh inning that put the game out of reach. Hao-Yu Lee chipped in with a run-scoring single of his own.
On the mound, Detroit used a creative approach. Tyler Holton served as an opener, retiring two of the three batters he faced before handing the ball to Brant Hunter. Hunter was dominant, tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out two to improve to 4-0 on the season.
For the Rangers, Jack Leiter turned in a performance that showed both promise and frustration. He tied his career high with 10 strikeouts and struck out six of the first eight batters he faced. But control issues crept in—a four-pitch walk to Riley Greene set the stage for Torkelson's homer—and Leiter was charged with five runs over 6 2/3 innings. Texas managed just one run, coming on Kyle Higashioka's RBI groundout in the seventh.
The Rangers now head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees, with Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01 ERA) taking the mound Tuesday. Detroit, meanwhile, will look to keep their home dominance alive when they open a three-game set against Boston on Monday, with ace Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.70 ERA) getting the start.