In his first Major League start, Detroit Tigers pitcher Garrett Hill was rock solid as he gave up just two hits over six innings of work in a win over the Cleveland Indians.
Hill’s second start did not go as well as he gave up six runs in the first two innings to the Chicago White Sox on way to an 8-0 loss in the Windy City.
The loss snapped the Tigers’ six-game winning streak but catcher Tucker Barnhart and manager A.J. Hinch were happy about Hill bouncing back after his tough start.
Garrett Hill gets off to rough start, Tigers bats go cold in loss to White Sox
After getting hit around in the first two innings, Garrett Hill settled down nicely, including retiring the final nine batters he faced before being taken out of the game after five innings by Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch.
Following the game, Barnhart said Hill saved the bullpen by getting through five innings and Hinch concurred.
“I told him, obviously the outcome wasn’t what we wanted it to be,” Barnhart said of Hill. “But to get through five innings after the way it started, it showed a lot about his resiliency. He saved our pen today for sure.”
“Our day tomorrow is different if Garrett doesn’t get through five innings,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “I like how he made adjustments and started to be a little more aggressive in the zone.”
Hill admitted that once he started to work ahead in the count, things fell into place.
“Just work ahead,” Hill said. “That’s what (pitching coach Chris) Fetter was telling me. As soon as I did that it turned around and I started getting results I wanted.”
“Just try not to be too fine,” Hill said. “I don’t need to make the perfect pitch to get these guys out. Just throw my stuff in the zone.”
The Detroit Tigers will be back at it on Sunday when they take on the same White Sox team in their series finale.
