Detroit Tigers' No. 1 picks Spencer Torkelson, Casey Mize deliver 1-0 win over Guardians
The Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians, 1-0, on Saturday, July 5, to win for the second time in the three-game series. Left-hander Tarik Skubal is scheduled to close out the series on Sunday, July 6.
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Brant Hurter took over from Mize and threw a scoreless eighth inning — the left-hander has pitched better lately.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) celebrates with catcher Jake Rogers (34) after the Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
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"That was some of the best stuff Hurter's had in the last couple weeks," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
Could have been the adrenaline, Hinch wasn't sure. It would make sense, though, as Hurter hasn't pitched a lot of high-leverage innings this season. Besides, there's been a lot of adrenaline going around the last couple days here in Cleveland.
Right-hander Tommy Kahnle, who is used to closing games, wrapped it up again in the ninth by striking out pinch-hitter Kyle Manzardo with the tying run on first base.
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The Tigers (56-34) have struggled to score against Cleveland (40-47) this season, managing 14 runs in six games.
"We won a series," said Hinch. "At the end of the day, we don't care how we win."
The Tigers lone run — and only two hits — Saturday night came from the bat of their hottest hitter, Spencer Torkelson, who homered to start the second inning, an opposite-field shot to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
It was his third home run in five games and his 20th of the year, one behind Riley Greene, the team leader. Torkelson nearly had a second homer, but his blast in the fourth inning bounced off the high wall in left field.
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Steven Kwan played the ricochet perfectly and rifled a throw to second to keep Torkelson at first base. Torkelson had a chance to add to the Tigers' lead in the ninth against reliever Tim Herrin but grounded into a double play with the bases loaded.
Speaking of double plays, Torkelson might have been part of one if he hadn't lost his glove diving for a sharp grounder in the fifth inning. The ball bounced off his glove as he dove and he lost his glove, too. Javier Báez, playing second, covered behind him, scooping up the errant ball and whipping it to second for a forceout.
Torkelson, meanwhile, hopped up and retreated to first base anticipating the throw from shortstop Trey Sweeney after the out at second. Sweeney started to throw then spotted Torkelson holding his hands up, motioning not to throw.
He still didn't have his glove.
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"That was a funny play," said Mize, who realized he should've covered first since Torkelson didn't have his glove. "But, I mean, if you don't get a glove on (the initial grounder), it's first and second ... maybe first and third there."
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Casey Mize gets a split decision
Mize used his split-finger fastball to keep Guardians hitters off balance all night. He regularly reached 95 mph with his fastball, allowing four hits in seven innings.
It was an old-school outing that way. Mize finished the sixth inning with 86 pitches and when he walked to the dugout after getting a flyout from Carlos Santana to end the inning, everyone figured he'd shake hands with manager Hinch, signaling an end to his evening.
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He didn't.
Mize had only pitched more than six innings three times this season: Once against the Kansas City Royals on April 19, a seven-inning stint and another seven-inning run against the Los Angeles Angels on May 1. And then there was his previous outing, against Minnesota on June 28 when he pitched 6⅔ innings.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (12) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
He threw 102 pitches, a season high, against Cleveland, 68 of them for strikes.
"He's been incredible," Hinch said. "And tonight, it was not only a well-pitched game but when we needed it the most. I mean we've used our 'pen a lot. Had the doubleheader. Had multiple guys down. So, the responsibility falls on the starter, and Casey gave us everything."
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Mize stranded five runners, with the game getting a little spicy in the seventh when Angel Martinez ripped a four-seam fastball deep to right center with one out. But Matt Vierling tracked it down at the wall in right-center, running into a padded door as he made the catch.
The next batter, Bo Naylor, yanked a slider down the right-field line that bounced into the seats for a ground-rule double. Mize got out of trouble by getting a groundout to short from Johnathan Rodríguez to end the threat.
"I felt like finishing the inning," Mize said. That "was important for me. I was happy how it ended. When a runner gets on second, you feel like you need to buckle down. I kind of like those situations to be honest."
Saturday brought Mize's ninth win this season and 18th of his career. It was the fifth time in six outings he allowed two runs or fewer. To be here, a critical part of a rotation on one of the best teams in baseball, a year and a few months after returning from Tommy John surgery?
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It's a great story, said Hinch, and a good reminder for him and the franchise to be patient and remember that players can find their way from all sorts of struggle.
As for Mize?
He had a solid year last season coming off the 2022 surgery (after missing 2023 recovering and rehabbing). But he wanted more.
"I feel like i went into this offseason searching for ways to get better," he said. "We came up with a plan. I'm still executing, you know, in July. I'm still figuring some things out. It's not a finished product. But to see that plan kind of working feels good instead of always searching between starts.
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An All-Star collision for Gleyber Torres
Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cora (56) and manager A.J. Hinch (14) and medical personnel look at second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Second baseman Gleyber Torres was elbowed in the head on a tag while running to second base in the first inning. Guardians' shortstop Brayan Rocchio had to adjust to an off-line relay throw from Martinez and his momentum carried him into Torres, arriving at second after having walked as the game's second batter.
Torres laid on the dirt for a few minutes as Hinch and the Tigers' trainer tended to him. He eventually got up and left the game. Báez moved to second base and Sweeney came in to play shortstop.
"He got elbowed in the neck," Hinch said. "It kind of jarred him. It felt a little off, so we erred on the side of caution and took him out. They came to me in the third or fourth inning and gave me notice that he was doing well and everything was fine. So hopefully that was just a scare."
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When Torres was asked if he was OK as he left the clubhouse after the game, he said he was fine and smiled.
Torres was recently voted to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game as the American League's starting second baseman. He signed a one-year deal in the offseason after seven years with the New York Yankees.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers squeak by Cleveland Guardians, 1-0, for series win
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