'We're never out of it': Torkelson's walk-off double caps sweep of White Sox

DETROIT -- The Tigers have been pondering a basketball-themed homer celebration in honor of the neighboring Pistons’ return to the NBA Playoffs. On Sunday, they didn’t clear the fences, but they pulled off a comeback the 1990s Bad Boys Pistons could appreciate: Detroit beat a Chicago closer named Jordan in dramatic walk-off style.

It wasn’t a long-range shot from downtown, but the Tigers won in part because nobody tried to be a hero. Spencer Torkelson’s two-run ninth-inning double off Jordan Leasure was the culmination of clutch at-bats that sent the Tigers not only to a 4-3 win and a three-game series sweep over the White Sox -- their first at home since 2017 -- but into a frenetic celebration.

“I don’t know, honestly,” Torkelson said when asked which teammate gave him the biggest hug or the biggest punch as they surrounded him on the infield. “It was kind of everybody at once.”

It could have been Javier Báez, whose leadoff single ignited the three-run rally and punctuated a three-hit game.

“Javier just threw baby powder on Gleyber [Torres],” said Andy Ibáñez, whose bases-loaded eight-pitch walk set up Torkelson’s heroics. “He was all smeared up and down.”

Báez missed out on the Tigers’ celebrations during last year’s late-season and playoff run, relegated to bystander by a season-ending right hip surgery. Being part of a win like this -- and a team like this -- clearly meant something to him.

“I tried to get Tork,” Báez said, “but Gleyber got in the middle. Just having fun. These guys are really good. If we play as a team, things like this can happen a lot when we’re down.”

It was a team rally and a reflection of a group that grew accustomed to close contests during last year’s stretch run. The Tigers trailed for 8 1/2 innings after a two-run opening frame against Jackson Jobe in his first Comerica Park start, but they threatened three times before the ninth. Detroit left 10 runners on base and hit just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but it kept creating chances.

“We’re never out of it,” Torkelson said. “We feel like we have a chance as long as we keep the line moving, put together good at-bats and have a really selfless approach at the plate. I think that was the perfect example today.”

The Tigers have won five of six to climb over .500 (5-4) after being swept out of Dodger Stadium by the defending World Series champions to open the season. Detroit has heated up in part by running up long at-bats and high pitch counts against starting pitchers. On Sunday, The Tigers did it against the bullpen.

“Our guys did a really good job of grinding through those at-bats,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “And it’s not easy, because I was just hoping that the guys weren’t going to try to play hero. Just keep passing the baton, keep putting up good at-bats. Someone eventually needs to be the hero; it was Tork. But we were putting so much pressure on them by having good at-bat after good at-bat.”

Those good at-bats began once White Sox veteran starter Martín Pérez left with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Trey Sweeney and Zach McKinstry drew back-to-back two-out walks off Mike Clevinger in the seventh, forcing lefty Cam Booser into the game to strike out pinch-hitter Riley Greene. Ibá?ez’s single and Colt Keith’s pinch-hit walk off of Penn Murfee forced lefty Fraser Ellard into the game to retire Kerry Carpenter.

Once Báez singled off Ellard to begin the ninth, the Tigers had three consecutive left-handed hitters up against Ellard. Two of them walked: McKinstry fouled off five pitches in a 10-pitch battle to put the tying run on base. None of Fraser’s next four pitches to Greene were close, loading the bases for Ibá?ez.

The Tigers were a hit away from tying it. But after Ibá?ez swung and missed at a 1-1 slider, he stayed within the strike zone, fouling off two more sliders and shrugging off another in the dirt.

“I did my job just to have a good at-bat, just to give Torkelson an opportunity,” Ibá?ez said through translation from Tigers Spanish communications manager Carlos Guillen.

More importantly, Torkelson wanted the chance.

“Gosh, you see those at-bats in front of you and you just want to get in the batter’s box,” Torkelson said. “The focus that those guys had and the at-bats they put together were unbelievable. If you don’t want to be in the batter’s box there, you’ve got a problem.

“The hard part was over with. I felt like I had the easy job.”

Easy?

“The pressure’s on him,” Torkelson said. “Get a good pitch. And when you get it, put a good swing on it.”

Not even Jordan can stop Detroit when the Tigers are competing like this.