Mize's brilliant start spoiled as Tigers' bullpen stumbles

PHOENIX -- This was the form that Casey Mize had been searching for all Spring Training.

This was the frenetic Tigers offense that had erupted early on Opening Day in San Diego.

This was the type of late lead the Tigers had built their bullpen to protect.

On nearly any other night, those ingredients should have been enough for a win.

And yet, as Jose Fernandez’s second home run of his Major League debut soared into left field off a Kenley Jansen cutter, it was a reminder of how quickly innings can unravel, even against well-assembled bullpens. And as former Tiger Paul Sewald struck out his old teammates in order in the ninth for his second save in as many nights, wrapping up the Diamondbacks’ comeback for a 7-5 Detroit defeat, the Tigers had to grit their teeth at a game they might like back by season’s end.

“We put up a big number, couldn't quite do much else and they had a big inning at a time where it was really the difference in the game,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Credit to them, but also a disappointing and frustrating loss for us, given where we were positioned going into the eighth.”

Considering how much the Tigers benefited from Kevin McGonigle’s hot start last weekend in San Diego, maybe karma had them due for another kid’s incredible debut.

“Give credit to him, man,” Jansen said of Fernandez. “He put the ball in play and ultimately the ball went out. That's not the result that I want, but you have to move forward.”

If Mize can build momentum off his gem, the Tigers will have a long-term benefit from what feels like a gut-wrenching defeat. But they weren’t in much of a mood for solace Tuesday night.

“On a personal level, it was a pretty good start to start the season,” Mize said. “It's unfortunate we didn't win the game.”

One turn through the reassembled rotation, the Tigers have wins behind Tarik Skubal -- who starts Wednesday’s series finale with a chance to salvage a .500 season-opening road trip -- and Framber Valdez, but losses everywhere else. It wasn’t for lack of effort by Mize, who dropped to the fifth slot following the late-offseason additions of Valdez and Justin Verlander, and looked like a back-end starter for much of Spring Training as he searched for fastball command and velocity along with freer movement in his delivery.

“Something’s out of whack,” the former top overall Draft pick lamented 17 days ago amidst 34 baserunners in 19 1/3 spring innings.

Mize’s first couple of innings Tuesday looked like the concern continued. He overcame a two-out single in the opening frame by throwing out Geraldo Perdomo trying to steal second base. Gabriel Moreno barely missed a home run leading off the next inning, doubling high off the center-field wall. Fernandez’s first Major League hit, a slow ground ball to third base, and former Tiger James McCann’s two-out walk loaded the bases.

Mize’s splitter kept him in the game, fanning Alek Thomas after Moreno’s double, Carlos Santana after Fernandez’s single, then Jordan Lawlar to strand the bases full.

“Tough spring, so I was trying to find some silver linings, and I truly believe [the splitter] was one,” Mize said. “I was happy to see that be true and be a useful pitch for me tonight against a lineup in which I needed it.”

Mize’s escape proved to be a turning point. Parker Meadows’ one-out infield single in the next inning ignited a five-run third, which included an RBI double by Jake Rogers, RBI singles from McGonigle and Kerry Carpenter and a two-run, two-out double for Riley Greene.

Even with the run support, Mize needed to settle in, reaching 3-0 counts on his first two batters in the bottom of the third. He walked Corbin Carroll on four pitches, but used his splitter to erase him with a double play.

Mize rolled from there, retiring 10 of his final 11 batters. His lone blemish was a hanging slider that Fernandez drove out to left for his first big-league home run. His boost in fastball velocity (94 mph average) and ride (17 inches of induced vertical break) was just what he was seeking during his spring struggles. It set up his devastating splitter to draw nine whiffs out of 17 swings, one off his career best for whiffs on the splitter from last September.

“He was exceptional,” Hinch said. “He finished his outing strong. He got swing and miss. He was frustrated early but made a few adjustments and got himself into a nice rhythm. It’s too bad we did spoil the outing for him. We’re going to need outings like that. And he did his part to put us in a position to win.”