Detroit Tigers, Game 66: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

The detroit/" rel="">Detroit News contributor Andrew Graham gives his quick takes on the Tigers’ 5-4 win against the Mariners on Sunday:

Kevin McGonigle, I love how reliable you are at the plate. And I loved that walk-off, too!

Day in, day out, the rookie puts together good at bats with strong command of the strike zone and good bat-to-ball skills. He’s not necessarily doing anything electric, offensively, either, but he’s proven to be perhaps Detroit’s most reliable (and healthy) hitter in the top of the lineup this season. 

<

Here’s a stat for you: In 62 games in his career entering Sunday, McGonigle had as many games where he went hitless as he has multi-hit games — 15 of each. 

He also doesn’t strike out much. McGonigle had entered Sunday without punching out at all in his prior five games, and has just five games this season where he’s struck out multiple times. 

All this has amounted in McGonigle leading the Tigers in WAR (3.4) and runs scored (39), while ranking second in batting average (.288) entering Sunday’s series finale. He added another hit, another run, yes, another strikeout on Sunday. Plus, his defense has been quite good on the left side of the infield. 

McGonigle has been ole’ reliable at the plate and it seems like it’s just who he is, not some early career cloud walking. Not bad for a rookie, especially if the power shows up more like his homer today — and forgive the Tigers’ social media admin for the Gen Alpha lingo.

Don’t love how quickly this offense can go AWOL. Detroit seemingly pulled a Wile E. Coyote through the first week of June, racing after the proverbial Roadrunner with big offensive outings against Tampa Bay before knocking four runs against Seattle in a series opening win as it ran out over a cliff. 

The last two days, Detroit looked down and the plummet ensued (until the walk-off). 

After almost getting no-hit on Saturday, the offense came alive sooner on Sunday, responding to an early Seattle run with one of its own in the fourth inning.

On Sunday, Detroit managed those two hits off starter Luis Castillo across 5.2 innings and did manage to load the bases on a series of walks in the sixth inning, one off Castillo and another two coming against Jose A. Ferrer. Then AJ Hinch pinch hit Jahmai Jones for the scuffling Colt Keith, and Jones flew out to center field to end the threat. 

Wenceel Perez did come in clutch with his triple in the seventh, and McGonigle’s walk off plus a load of walks helped Detroit steal a win on Sunday, but the Tigers generally have had way too many spells where the bats are seemingly an ACME product. 

▶ Kevin McGonigle — let’s watch that walk off again, shall we, with the call from the great Dan Dickerson.

▶ Game 67: Twins at Tigers, 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1

Andrew Graham is a freelance writer

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 66: One thing I loved, one thing I didn’t