MLB: Cubs roll to win over Tigers behind big first inning

The Chicago Cubs sent 12 batters to the plate during a six-run first inning and cruised to an 11-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Pete Crow-Armstrong led the Cubs’ offense, going 2-for-2 with three walks and two RBIs, while Michael Conforto added a two-run home run. The win evened the series after Detroit claimed an 8-6 extra-innings victory in Monday’s opener.

Chicago starting pitcher David Peterson (5-7) benefited from the early offensive explosion and delivered a dominant performance, allowing just three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out four batters and issued only one walk as he kept the Tigers’ lineup quiet.

Detroit’s Dillon Dingler provided the only offensive spark for the Tigers, hitting a two-run homer in the ninth inning after recording a double in the second. Dingler finished the series 6-for-8 with three home runs.

The Cubs quickly took control against Tigers starter Framber Valdez, as the first seven batters reached base. Carson Kelly opened the scoring with a two-run single to right field, followed by an RBI bloop hit from Michael Busch and a run-scoring infield single by Ian Happ.

Crow-Armstrong started the rally with a leadoff triple and later drew a bases-loaded walk in his second plate appearance of the inning, forcing Detroit to remove Valdez from the game.

Valdez (5-7) lasted only 42 pitches and recorded two outs while allowing five hits and two walks. He was charged with all six runs in the first inning after reliever Ty Madden allowed another bases-loaded walk to Seiya Suzuki.

Crow-Armstrong added another run in the third inning with an RBI single, extending Chicago’s advantage.

Conforto increased the Cubs’ lead in the fifth inning when he hit a two-run homer off Brenan Hanifee, his ninth home run of the season.

Madden and Hanifee helped stabilize Detroit’s pitching after Valdez’s early departure, combining for 5 1/3 innings before position players Zach McKinstry and Jake Rogers took the mound for the final two innings.

McKinstry allowed two runs in the seventh inning, while Rogers kept the Cubs scoreless in the eighth.

Aaron Civale made his Cubs debut after being acquired from the Athletics on Saturday, replacing Peterson in the seventh inning. He recorded the final seven outs and allowed two runs on Dingler’s ninth-inning homer.

The Cubs will look to carry the momentum forward as they continue their series against the Tigers.

-Field Level Media/Reuters