The Detroit Tigers fell 5-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Wednesday in spring training play. Despite Brett Callahan's 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI effort at the plate, the Tigers could not pull even when it mattered. Ty Madden worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits. The Tigers finished with 8 hits on the day while holding the Phillies to 7. The Tigers will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Brett Callahan was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an 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.
Javier Báez chipped in, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, Kerry Carpenter added to the attack, going 1-for-3, and Austin Slater provided support, going 1-for-3. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Alec Bohm led the Phillies offense with a 2-for-3 with two RBI day. Otto Kemp also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Bryce Harper added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Phillies offense proved to be too much for the Tigers pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Ty Madden got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits with one strikeout. He threw 21 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 4.6 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out four. The relief corps kept the game within reach 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. Kyle Brnovich recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Burch Smith stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Phillies got on the board first with two runs in the third inning. The Tigers answered with a run in the fourth. Phillies responded with a run in the fourth. The Tigers countered with a run in the fifth. Phillies struck back with two runs in the fifth. The Tigers answered with a run in the ninth. The Phillies were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. The Tigers out-hit Phillies 8-7 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 5,757 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
