Kerry Carpenter tied his career best with four hits, and the Detroit Tigers stayed in the AL wild-card hunt with a 7-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can swing it, and we’re swinging it well right now,” Carpenter said. “When we are at our best, we can do it all.”
In the seventh inning, Carpenter needed a home run to hit for the cycle—the first for a Tigers player since Carlos Guillen in 2006—but he ended up with an infield single instead.
“I was aware,” Carpenter said. “I was hoping to get a pitch I could do some damage on, but it didn’t happen.”
Tigers starter Casey Mize gave up four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven without walking any batters.
Tyler Holton (6-1) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief, and Jason Foley picked up his 22nd save with a scoreless ninth inning.
“I like bringing Tyler Holton into the game every time,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
Holton has a 2.23 ERA and has played various roles, including opener and closer.
Tanner Gordon (0-6) took the loss, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings. In his last two starts, the rookie has allowed 12 runs on 18 hits in four innings.
“He got ahead of a lot of guys, but he couldn’t put them away,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “That’s a rookie pitcher and a rookie catcher, so it is going to be the school of hard knocks at times, but it is an education. Tanner is learning a lot.”
Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney homered for Detroit (75-71), which has gone 20-8 since August 11. The Tigers are three games behind Minnesota for the final American League wild card after both teams won on Wednesday.
“It’s definitely exciting this time of year,” Holton said. “Last year was a different situation.”
The 2023 Tigers finished second in the AL Central, and they are currently in fourth place. Their 78-84 record last year did not put them in the wild-card race.
