Kevin McGonigle clutch hit sends Tigers to 5-2 win over Padres

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SAN DIEGO – Left-hander Framber Valdez met expectations in his Detroit Tigers debut.

The 32-year-old kept the ball on the ground for easy outs, filled up the strike zone and limited the San Diego Padres to two runs across six innings, needing just 83 pitches. It's everything anyone could've wanted from Valdez, who signed a lucrative two-year contract in free agency after eight seasons with the Houston Astros.

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The Tigers didn't provide enough run support in the early innings, but top prospect Kevin McGonigle delivered in the later innings.

Following Valdez's efficiency, the Tigers secured a 5-2 win over the Padres on Friday, March 27, at Petco Park, thanks to a four-run eighth inning. The highlight of that inning: McGonigle won a 10-pitch battle with two outs against left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta, driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-run single.

HE IS HIM: Four hits, no fear: Kevin McGonigle arrives with historic MLB debut

The McGonigle-led Tigers (2-0) have a chance to sweep the Padres (0-2) on Saturday (8:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet) after winning the first two games in the three-game series.

Everything fell apart of the Padres when right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada took the mound in the eighth inning.

Estrada walked three batters in a row with one out: Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith. After that, Riley Greene sawed-off an up-and-in fastball for a slow roller on the left side of the infield that led to no play, allowing a run to score for a 2-2 tie and keeping the bases loaded.

With two outs, McGonigle stepped to the plate.

The Padres countered with Peralta.

McGonigle fouled off five pitches in a row before driving a sinker into right-center field for a two-run single, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

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Dillon Dingler extended the Tigers' lead to 5-2 with an ensuing RBI single.

In Friday's game, Valdez allowed two runs (one earned run) on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts across six innings. He threw 63 of 83 pitches and generated groundouts for five of 18 outs.

In the sixth inning, Valdez walked Jackson Merrill on six pitches.

He nearly escaped without damage, but a two-out throwing error by catcher Dillon Dingler on a pickoff attempt sailed past first baseman Spencer Torkelson, allowing Merrill to take second base.

Moments later, the Padres grabbed a 2-1 lead when Ramón Laureano pushed Valdez's sinker off the wall in right field. The swing from Laureano scored Merrill from second base.

Standing on the mound, all Valdez could do was hang his head in disappointment as the Padres celebrated. It wasn't charged as an earned run because of Dingler's throwing error.

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The Tigers struggled to score in the early innings against right-hander Michael King, who allowed one unearned run on one hit and four walks with six strikeouts. He tossed 82 pitches.

In the second inning, McGonigle gave King's sinker a 403-foot ride to center field, only for center fielder Jackson Merrill to rob him of what would've been the first home run of his MLB career.

McGonigle finished 1-for-3 with one walk.

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But the Tigers had other opportunities to score against King.

In the third, Carpenter and Torres struck out with Parker Meadows on second base. In the fifth, Meadows struck out, Javier Báez grounded out and Carpenter struck out with McGonigle on second base.

The Tigers finally scored with two outs in the sixth inning, thanks to Torkelson driving in a run with a two-strike single off left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon for a 1-1 tie.

Before that single, pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones grounded into what should've been a double play, but third baseman Manny Machado dropped the ball for a fielding error.

It was a shocking mistake from the veteran.

And it ultimately kept the inning alive for Torkelson to cash in.

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After the Tigers took a 5-2 lead, right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan and right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen came out of the bullpen to put the Padres away without a threat.

Jansen tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

It was his first save of the season – and the 477th save of his 17-year MLB career, as he aims to become the third pitcher in MLB history to reach the 500-save milestone.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kevin McGonigle clutch hit jolts Detroit Tigers to 5-2 win vs Padres

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