The Detroit Tigers rolled to a 16-8 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Friday in spring training action. Javier Báez paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Jack Flaherty worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit. The Tigers finished with 17 hits on the day while holding the Phillies to 11. It was an encouraging performance for the Tigers as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.

Key Performers

Javier Báez was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Tigers offense.

Tomás Nido added to the attack, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, Gage Workman provided support, going 1-for-2 with a triple and three RBI, and Josue Briceño also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.

On the other side of the diamond, René Pinto led the Phillies offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI day. Christian Cairo also contributed, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Johan Rojas added a 1-for-3 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Tigers pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.

On the Mound

Jack Flaherty got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with four strikeouts. He threw 29 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.

The bullpen combined for 7.0 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out four. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.

How It Happened

Phillies got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Phillies tacked on a run in the third. The Tigers countered with three runs in the fourth. The Tigers plated a run in the fifth. Phillies answered with two runs in the sixth. The Tigers responded with 11 runs in the sixth. Phillies countered with two runs in the seventh. The Tigers struck back with a run in the seventh. Phillies answered with two runs in the ninth. The Tigers spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Tigers out-hit Phillies 17-11 on the day, with 4 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,888 was on hand to take in the action.

Looking Ahead

It was a productive day for the Tigers, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Tigers are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.