For the second time considering that the amateur draft began in 1965, 2 former first-round picks squared off as a starters in their MLB debuts– Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize and Chicago White Sox righty Dane Dunning.
Mize got in as the No. 1 overall choice in 2018, while Dunning was picked No. 26 total in 2016. (The very first pair of first rounders to debut against each other were the Tigers Rick Porcello and the Toronto Blue Jays Ricky Romero in April 2009.).
However the Mize-Dunning matchup Wednesday wound up a sideshow at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Tigers (9-13) were not able to defeat the White Sox (14-11), losing 5-3 in a debut-filled night in Chicago.
[Our most significant takeaways from Casey Mizes strong Detroit Tigers launching] Despite Mizes seven-strikeout efficiency, the Tigers losing streak grew to eight games as reliever Gregory Soto allowed 2 solo home runs in the 8th inning.
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After the White Sox installed 17 combined runs in their wins Monday and Tuesday, they summoned just 5 against Mize and Co. in Wednesdays contest. The four-game series concludes at 2:10 p.m. Thursday with right-hander Spencer Turnbull on the mound for Detroit.
Mizes debut.
The Tigers got a remarkable debut showing from Mize, who charmed with his splitter-fastball combination and his total command. In 73 pitches, he produced 40 swings with 16 nasty balls, 11 whiffs and 13 in play.
His fastball maxed out at 96.2 mph, while his splitter balanced 85.9 mph.
In 4 1/3 innings, Mize gave up 3 operate on 7 hits. He struck out 7 and did not permit a walk; hes the very first pitcher in franchise history with 7 strikeouts and no walks in his big-league debut. His first MLB strikeout began a splitter to Yoan Moncada in the very first inning.
[Detroit Tigers Casey Mize gives a look into his psyche entering his MLB debut ] Besides a crowning achievement to Edwin Encarnacion in the second inning, Mize had few concerns with the White Sox until the 5th. Thats when he quit a double to Zack Collins, an RBI single to Tim Anderson and an RBI single to Moncada, enabling Chicago to connect the game at 3 runs.
With one out in the 5th, Mize was replaced by reliever Jose Cisnero.
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Dunnings launching.
Wednesday was more than a matchup of 2 first-round picks: the clash paired 2 previous SEC pitchers– Mize from Auburn and Dunning from Florida..
Dunning quit a leadoff double to Jeimer Candelario but reacted with a 92 mph fastball to shut down Niko Goodrum and tape-record his first MLB strikeout. He retired 11 in a row before Jonathan Schoops two-out single in the fourth.
After Isaac Paredes drew a walk to put 2 runners on in the fifth, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper went to Dunning on the mound. The next batter, Candelario, launched a three-runer homer for a 3-1 lead– going after the 25-year-old from his launching.
Dunning, similar to Mize, went 4 1/3 innings. He provided up three work on 5 hits and one walk with 7 strikeouts.
Bonifacios Tigers launching.
With two runners in scoring position with 2 outs in 4th, Jorge Bonifacio started out on a complete depend on a curveball from Dunning. In the fifth, he made an mistake in ideal field, permitting Anderson to score from second base standing..
He was 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts in his first game for the Tigers and left the video game for pinch-hitter Christin Stewart in the ninth.
After Bonifacio was launched by the Royals in November 2019, Detroit signed him on a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. He began the season at the alternate training site in Toledo.
[Making sense of Tarik Skubals rocky debut with Detroit Tigers ] Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. The Free Press has actually begun a brand-new digital membership design. Heres how you can gain access to our most exclusive Detroit Tigers material..
In 4 1/3 innings, Mize offered up 3 runs on seven hits. He struck out 7 and did not enable a walk; hes the first pitcher in franchise history with 7 strikeouts and no walks in his big-league launching. His very first MLB strikeout came on a splitter to Yoan Moncada in the first inning.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press.
