PHOENIX - For six innings on Tuesday night, March 31, 2026, the Detroit Tigers looked destined to even their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Behind a dominant season debut from Casey Mize, the Tigers held a comfortable 5-0 lead and appeared fully in control.
Then, the eighth inning happened.
In a dramatic 7-5 come from behind victory, the Arizona Diamondbacks struck for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, turning a Tigers blowout into a disappointing and frustrating loss, according to manager A.J. Hinch.
Mize dominates, then the collapse
Casey Mize was surgical in his 2026 debut, allowing just four hits and one run over six innings while striking out nine, with seven of those strikeouts coming on his splitter. He departed with a 5-1 lead after Arizona’s Jose Fernandez hit a solo home run in the fourth, the only blemish on Mize's night.
However, the bullpen could not seal the deal. Drew Anderson started the bottom of the eighth by allowing a double to former Tiger James McCann and a single. Will Vest was summoned to face the top of the order but struggled with command, walking Ketel Marte to load the bases.
Corbin Carroll made them pay with a two run double, narrowing the gap to 5-3. After another walk and a groundout that brought in a third run, the score was 5-4.
Rookie shines, veteran falters
With runners on the corners, Hinch brought in veteran closer Kenley Jansen to face 22 year old rookie Jose Fernandez. In a moment that will define his MLB debut, Fernandez crushed a 409 foot three run home run, his second homer of the game, to put the Diamondbacks ahead 7-5.
It was a meatball, belt high and down the middle, and the kid crushed it, reported Bless You Boys.
Paul Sewald finished the job for Arizona in the ninth, earning his second save in as many days, ensuring the Tigers fell to 2-3 on the season.
The big inning myth
The loss highlighted a dangerous trend for Detroit. Through five games, the Tigers have scored 25 total runs, 19 of which came in one inning bursts.
On Tuesday, all six of Detroit's hits occurred during a five run third inning, featuring a two run double by Riley Greene and RBI hits from Parker Meadows, Kevin McGonigle, and Kerry Carpenter.
We put up a big number and could not quite do much else, Hinch said. We did not put multiple good at bats together, we could not really piece anything together the rest of the way.
What is next
The Tigers 2-3 look to salvage a split in the four game series against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Final score. Diamondbacks 7, Tigers 5.
WP. Andrew Hoffmann 1-0
LP. Will Vest 0-1
SV. Paul Sewald 2
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