Josh Smith's pinch
DETROIT (AP) — Josh Smith’s pinch-hit double in the top of the ninth drove home the winning run and the Texas Rangers beat the error-prone Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Wednesday.
With one out, Ezequiel Duran singled, went to second on an error by first baseman Spencer Torkelson and scored on Smith’s clutch hit to right-center field.
“I was trying to be aggressive. The two guys in front of me did a good job getting on base,’” Smith said. “You try not to put too much pressure on yourself in that situation.”
Kirby Yates (2-0) got the final four outs, striking out the side in the ninth, to get the win. Detroit’s Shelby Miller (3-1) took the loss as the Tigers committed three errors, leading to two unearned runs.
”‘We didn’t play clean,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “That’s not always recognizable on the scoreboard with errors, but today it was, and they took advantage. They didn’t let us get away with it. In a one-run game, everything matters.”