Spencer Torkelson powers Tigers past Braves in extras to snap skid

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Field Level Media
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Jun 12, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA;  Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) hits a single in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park.
Jun 12, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) hits a single in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park.
Image: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Torkelson blasted a two-run home run in the ninth, then delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 10th as the host Detroit Tigers snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night

Andy Ibanez had three hits, including a homer, and scored the winning run. Zack Short had two hits and drove in two runs.

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Alex Lange (4-2) tossed an inning of scoreless relief to pick up the victory. Mason Englert, making his first career start, gave up one run and three hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Ronald Acuna Jr. drove in three runs for the Braves. Michael Harris II had three hits, including a solo homer

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Charlie Morton tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight.

Marcell Ozuna, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, left the game with a right wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.

Detroit staged a three-run rally in the ninth to force extras. Jonathan Schoop led off against Raisel Iglesias with a single and Torkelson followed with his sixth homer over the left-field wall to cut it to 5-4. Kerry Carpenter then singled before Iglesias struck out Javier Baez and set down Nick Maton on a grounder.

Matt Vierling and Short followed with singles, the latter plating Maton to tie the game.

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Atlanta's ghost runner in the 10th, Sam Hilliard, was thrown out at plate by left fielder Ibanez.

Jake Rogers sacrificed Detroit's ghost runner, Ibanez, to third, but Rogers reached on Austin Riley's fielding error. Schoop lined out before Torkelson ripped a long single to center off Joe Jimenez (0-2).

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Ozzie Albies' sacrifice fly in the second inning and Acuna's two-run double in the fifth gave Atlanta a 3-0 lead.

Atlanta scratched out a run against Tyler Alexander in the sixth. Albies walked, stole second, advanced on Baez's fielding error and scored on Acuna's fielder's choice.

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Ibanez broke up the shutout when he smashed his third homer over the left field wall to lead off the seventh.

Harris made it 5-1 with his fourth homer, a two-out shot in the eighth.

Baez, who led off the bottom of the inning with a double, scored on Short's two-out single to trim it to 5-2.

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--Field Level Media