Detroit — Justyn-Henry Malloy doesn’t seem like a prototypical leadoff hitter, at least not in any old-school sense. But he has certainly produced like one.
In his first start at the top of the order last Monday in Seattle, after he was hastily summoned early that morning from Toledo, he ignited the offense with a leadoff double, an RBI single, two walks and scored two runs in the Tigers’ first win of the season.
He went 0 for 4 with a walk in the home opener on Friday, but saw 27 pitches, helping to drive White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon out of the game in the fourth inning.
Malloy was back at the top of the order Saturday and kicked off the Tigers’ 7-2 romp over the White Sox with a first-pitch double in a two-run first inning and a two-out walk in the second ahead of Kerry Carpenter’s third home run in two games.
Carpenter blistered a first-pitch curveball on a line (109-mph exit velocity) inside the foul pole in right field.
Spencer Torkelson, who had doubled in the first inning, led off a three-run third inning with his second homer of the season.
BOX SCORE: Tigers 7, White Sox 2
The Tigers were up 7-1 after three innings, producing seven hits off White Sox right-hander Davis Martin.
The White Sox contributed to their own demise in this one, as well.
The three-run third inning was ignited by Torkelson’s homer, but Martin put more meat on the table by walking Colt Keith and hitting Andy Ibáñez.
After Jake Rogers singled to load the bases, still no outs, Trey Sweeney hit a ground ball to first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Vaughn fielded it going to his right and threw home to catcher Korey Lee.
Problem: Lee was standing a few feet in front of the plate, expecting Vaughn to throw to second base and start a potential double play. It was a gift run for the Tigers and extended the inning, allowing Malloy to cap it with a sacrifice fly.
In four games this season, Malloy is 3 for 12 with two doubles, four runs and six walks.
The run-cushion was beneficial because it was day of grind and labor for Tigers starter Reese Olson.
On another cold (46 degrees at game time) and damp day at Comerica Park, the velocity and spin rates were down on all of his pitches and he struggled to keep them in the strike zone.
To his credit, he soldiered through six innings and made a quality start out of it, allowing two runs and seven hits with three walks.
He got some good help from his defense, especially Ibáñez at third base. Ibáñez got Olson out of the second inning, making a diving stop and then starting a 5-4-3 double play from his knees on a ball hit by Jacob Amaya.
It was an important play. Olson needed 25 pitches to get out of the first inning. Ibáñez’s play ended the second on Olson’s 11
th
pitch.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, Ibáñez turned a 5-3 double play on a ground ball hit by Luis Robert, Jr.
The White Sox erased a scoring chance for themselves with some foggy-headed baserunning in the fourth inning. Down by six runs, they had runners on first and second with two outs.
Tigers’ catcher Rogers, on the first pitch to Lee, threw a dart to first base and picked off Brooks Baldwin.
With back-to-back series wins under their belts, the Tigers will go for the sweep Sunday with rookie Jackson Jobe getting the start.
Chris.Mc[email protected]
@cmccosky
