Tigers fend off late Cubs rally for win

 

*Photo from The Athletic*

   In a night marked by protests, the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers played on, despite Jason Heyward opting not to play for the Cubs. Austin Romine drove in two runs, the Tigers held off a late rally, and the Tigers beat the Cubs by a 7-6 score. Several games had been called off in protest of the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin, but the Tigers and Cubs decided to play on.

   Heyward said of his decision to not play that ''I decided to let my teammates know that I couldn't go out there and play tonight, not with what's happening, I can't tell you what's going to happen tomorrow, can't tell you what's going to happen the next day, but tonight I needed to be a part of what was going on in my community. Sports sometimes is a distraction, and not in a bad way. It's a good thing, but when you have causes that need to be spoken on and need to be acted on, I think it's huge that sports - to also pay attention and use the platform that we have in the right way.''

   Meanwhile, during the game, the Cubs got the scoring started in the 3rd inning, when Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single and Javier Baez hit a sac fly to make it 2-0 Cubs. In the 4th, Romine got the Tigers on the board with an RBI single to right field, making it 2-1 Cubs. In the 6th, after Kyle Schwarber hit a solo homer to extend the Cubs lead to 3-1, Detroit responded with the bats. Romine hit an RBI double, Jonathan Schoop hit an RBI single, Jeimer Candelario hit an RBI single, and Niko Goodrum hit an RBI double to make it 6-3 Tigers. In the 7th, Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI single to make it 7-3. In the 9th, the Cubs scored 3 runs on a Nico Hoerner RBI single, Albert Almora Jr RBI double, and a Rizzo sac fly to make it 7-6, but the Tigers held on from there to get the win.

   Joe Jimenez, normally the Tigers closer, was used in the 6th inning, where he was able to get the win, allowing just the homer to Schwarber. Manager Ron Gardenhire said of using Jimenez in the 6th that ''He's a little out of whack, a little frustrated, overthrowing the ball, so we decided we're going to try and get him in, if you possibly can in a major league game, get him in a situation where it's a little easier on him right now so he's not trying to overthrow.''

   Michael Fulmer started the game for the Tigers. Fulmer threw 3 innings, allowing two runs on 3 hits and two walks, striking out one hitter. Buck Farmer worked the 9th for the Tigers instead of Jimenez, although he didn't earn a save because it was not a save situation to start the 9th. Daniel Norris, Bryan Garcia, Jose Cisnero, and Gregory Soto also pitched for the Tigers.

   Ryan Tepera took the loss for the Cubs, only getting one out in the Tigers 5 run 6th inning, allowing 3 runs. Jon Lester started the game for the Cubs, throwing 5 innings. Lester allowed one run on 8 hits and one walk, striking out 5 hitters, getting a no decision. Rowan Wick, Colin Rea, and Craig Kimbrel also pitched for the Cubs.

   The Cubs have a day off on Thursday as they travel to Cincinnati to face the Reds over the weekend. Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs. The Tigers welcome the Minnesota Twins to town Thursday, where Matthew Boyd will start the first game for the Tigers.