Valdez strong in return from suspension, but Tigers' walk-off woes persist

NEW YORK – Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez was back on the mound Wednesday night at Citi Field after serving a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story in a May 5 loss.

The break in the action apparently did Valdez some good because he gave Detroit much-needed length, but he ended up with a no-decision as the Tigers were edged by the Mets, 3-2, in 10 innings.

It was Tigers right-hander Drew Anderson who took the loss. With a runner on second and one out in the 10th, Carson Benge singled to center field, scoring A.J. Ewing to win the game for the Mets.

To say the Tigers are struggling is an understatement. They suffered their fifth walk-off loss of the season, the most in the big leagues, and dropped their road record to 7-18 (.280), the lowest road winning percentage in all of baseball.

While he was pleased with Valdez’s performance, manager A.J. Hinch showed concern about the offense. In their last two games, the Tigers were 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Hinch wasn’t happy that the team couldn’t advance the runner in the 10th after starting the frame with the automatic runner on second, who in this case was Dillion Dingler.

With Mets reliever Brooks Raley on the mound, Jahmai Jones struck out. Riley Greene, Detroit’s best hitter and currently on a 23-game on-base streak, popped up to third baseman Brett Baty for the second out of the inning. After Matt Vierling drew a walk to put runners on first and second, Wenceel Pérez flew out to Ewing in center field to end the threat. That’s what can happen when you have your best players like Javier Báez, Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter on the 10-day injured list.

“We are having a hard time getting to the finish line feeling good. There have been a couple of tough losses like this,” Hinch said. “You have to fight through it. We need some resolve to get to the finish line.

“The Mets came up with contact with their guy on second [in the 10th]. We didn’t advance our guy in the 10th. When you get to the 10th, as a visiting team, there is a ton of pressure to do something. We couldn’t do anything in the top of the 10th. Honestly, since the first inning, we had a bunch of guys left on base. The Mets capitalized on some contact in the seventh and in the 10th.”

Entering Wednesday’s game, Detroit’s relievers had thrown 49 1/3 innings over their last eight games – just over six frames per contest. The bullpen received some help because Valdez gave the team 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks. It marked the second time this season that Valdez pitched into the seventh inning – the other was on April 14 against the Royals.

Valdez relied heavily on his sinker, but the Mets also had problems with his curveball, slider, changeup and four-seam fastball. It looked like he was going to breeze through the seventh inning. He started the frame by striking out Tyrone Taylor and Ewing, but Valdez was taken out of the game after walking Luis Torrens and allowing a bloop single to Benge.

“It’s part of the game and part of reality. It’s not frustrating at all. I did my best to go deep in the game and then toss the ball to my reliever,” Valdez said through interpreter Carlos Guillen.

Enter Kyle Finnegan, who allowed a bloop single to Bo Bichette that allowed Torrens to score the tying run.

“[Valdez] was excellent. The start mattered to him, getting back into his season. He worked hard to get into the game, and I thought he threw the ball extremely well,” Hinch said. “We asked a ton out of him tonight, and he delivered.”

Valdez expressed happiness to be back on the mound.

“I’m happy to be back and focus on doing my job,” Valdez said. “I was throwing strikes. To have a team behind me was most important to me. It was a good effort.”