Detroit, MI
Hurter deals, Torkelson and Greene homer as Tigers clinch series over Red Sox
Detroit — The crowd in Comerica Park felt something brewing.
After being held without a baserunner for the first four innings of Sunday’s rubber match against the Boston Red Sox, Kerry Carpenter opened the bottom of the fifth with a walk, ensuring the Tigers wouldn’t be victims of a perfect game in their own stadium.
Relieved with that — and after Boston lefty Rich Hill got Jace Jung to strike out — the announced crowd of 30,173 in attendance popped at the sound of Spencer Torkelson’s bat sending a second-pitch curveball over the wall in left field and into Detroit’s bullpen.
Torkelson had no doubt, moseying his way out of the batter’s box to admire his work, as he gave the Tigers a lead they’d never relinquish on the way to a series-clinching 4-1 win.
Detroit entered Sunday five games back of the Minnesota Twins for a wild-card spot. But it made up ground on the Red Sox, who are currently the first American League team out and sit just a half-game ahead of the Tigers.
It was a two-homer day for Detroit, as Riley Greene turned on a 92 mph cutter left over the middle of the plate in the sixth inning and smoked a line drive that snuck inside the right-field foul pole. Greene’s shot was also of the two-run variety, scoring Parker Meadows from first base.
Greene has a team-high 20 home runs, the most of his three-year career, and is up to 58 RBIs, which also leads the Tigers. Torkelson now has eight home runs on the season.
For as good as Boston starter Cooper Criswell was — no hits or walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts through four innings — Tigers lefty Brant Hurter kept Detroit in it. Hurter scattered six hits over five innings, allowing one run in the fifth before stranding two runners by forcing a groundout to second base.
Hurter also got the Tigers out of danger in the second frame. After Beau Brieske, who started the game, surrendered back-to-back one-out walks, Hunter was called out of the bullpen and induced an inning-ending double play on his first pitch.
It’s the sixth appearance of Hurter’s career, and the first in which he pitched at least five innings and allowed one or fewer runs; he’s gone for five or more innings on three other occasions, giving up two, two and three runs in outings against the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, respectively.
Will Vest and Jason Foley combined to pitch a scoreless 2⅔ innings to secure the win. The Tigers, who finish their home stand with a 4-2 record, will now head to California for a six-game road trip against the San Diego Padres from Sept. 2-5 and the Oakland Athletics from Sept. 6-8.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
Tarik Skubal injury: Detroit Tigers ace discusses left elbow surgery
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal talks to reporters May 4, 2026, at Comerica Park about needing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
Wenceel Pérez is home.
But when will he return to the Detroit Tigers?
The 26-year-old outfielder returned to Detroit on Friday, June 19, after spending a couple extra days in Houston awaiting clearance to fly. He suffered an orbital fracture June 16 when a plyometric band struck him below his left eye during his postgame workout routine.
Don’t expect to see him in MLB games anytime soon.
“It’s not injured, from what I understand, where it’s going to be something long term,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park, “but it doesn’t mean it heals itself fast. He’s feeling better and better and reporting progress.”
The fracture doesn’t require surgery.
“We’ve got to pay attention to the bone healing,” Hinch said. “The eye part of it is, the swelling is the main issue. There were a couple of days there where your eye swells shut and the vision is not there.”
Pérez hasn’t played for the Tigers since June 16.
Before the injury, he hit .180 with seven home runs, 14 walks and 29 strikeouts in 53 games.
Parker Meadows injury update
Center fielder Parker Meadows hasn’t played for the Tigers since April 9.
The 26-year-old has been on the injured list with a left radius fracture, a concussion and a right mouth laceration, with the left radius fracture requiring surgery. There isn’t a timetable for his return to the Tigers.
“The bone shattered, so it’s not as simple as healing a simple break,” Hinch said. “I say shattered as a non-doctor, so I’m not sure if that’s the actual term, but I know it’s been a work in progress to continue his ability to do everything with that hand and arm and wrist. It’s been slow, and there’s not much we can do.”
Before the injury, he hit .250 with two walks and 10 strikeouts in 12 games while serving as the everyday center fielder.
“He’s not hitting and doing all those things that would lead you to start to wonder when he’s coming back, but it’s progressing,” Hinch said. “The nature of the injury, as we are learning, has been the slowest a bone heals. It’s by no setback or no issue.”
‘Slow ramp’ for Gleyber Torres
Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who has one of the best on-base percentages in baseball, remains sidelined with a left oblique strain. The 29-year-old received a cortisone shot Friday, but he still hasn’t resumed baseball activities.
It’s his second left oblique strain over the past two months.
Last time, Torres missed one month while recovering on the injured list.
It could be an even longer process this time.
“He’s doing his normal rehab therapy,” Hinch said. “It’ll be a slow ramp for him.”
Before the latest injury, he hit .280 with four home runs, 29 walks and 33 strikeouts in 43 games while serving as the everyday second baseman.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Watch CBS News
Detroit, MI
Man armed with gun shot by police in downtown Detroit ahead of fireworks show, police say
A man, who authorities say was armed with a weapon, was shot by Detroit police on Monday ahead of the annual Ford Fireworks show.
Police say another person, a 19-year-old, was arrested before the shooting.
Detroit police say that at about 6:24 p.m., officers arrested the 19-year-old, who was armed, near the area of Farmer and Bates streets. At that time, a man was seen walking away from a group. Police say that the person ran away, prompting a chase.
During the chase, an officer fired shots, hitting the man several times. The individual was taken to the hospital, and a weapon was recovered from the scene. The individual’s identity is currently unknown.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public, and the incident remains under investigation.
The annual fireworks show is set to begin at approximately 10 p.m. over the Detroit River.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoAir quality concerns remain as the Boyle Heights warehouse fire continues to burn
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoWenceel Pérez returns home, but when will he return to Detroit Tigers?
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder to return following mental health leave
-
Dallas, TX2 hours ago
Impact: How Jeffery Simmons’ extension could affect Quinnen Williams
-
Miami, FL2 hours ago
Jaylen Brown bidding war? Haslem drove this? All the fallout from Antetokounmpo trade to Miami
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoYour next Uber ride in Boston could be a taxi
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoNuggets 2026 NBA mock draft tracker 2.0: What national experts predict Denver will do
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoHow to watch Bosnia vs. Qatar in next Seattle World Cup match
