Mize stumbles in home debut as Tigers fall

Detroit Tigers

The splitter from Casey Mize dove towards Anthony Rizzo’s feet as the Cubs slugger swung over it for Mize’s first strikeout at Comerica Park. As Rizzo trudged back to the visitors’ dugout, he turned over his shoulder and took a quick glance back at Mize for the out pitch he

The splitter from Casey Mize dove towards Anthony Rizzo’s feet as the Cubs slugger swung over it for Mize’s first strikeout at Comerica Park. As Rizzo trudged back to the visitors’ dugout, he turned over his shoulder and took a quick glance back at Mize for the out pitch he produced.

It was a reminder of how nasty and unique of a pitch the Tigers’ top pitching prospect has. It also ended up being the highlight of Mize’s second Major League start — his first at Comerica Park. While the Cubs eventually capitalized on deep counts against Mize and defensive decisions behind him to pull away for a 9-3 Detroit defeat on Monday night, he began his process of building a legacy in his new home park.

Box score

At some point, Mize will have better memories here, with fans in the stands providing real cheers instead of piped-in noise. He still drew a bit of a crowd, as close to a dozen fans stood outside the gated fence beyond the outfield concourse, trying to catch a glimpse of the Tigers’ future. The tables at the restaurant atop the Detroit Athletic Club building beyond center field were surprisingly filled for a Monday night.

Mize began his pregame routine in the outfield more than 40 minutes before first pitch, long-tossing from deep left-center field towards the left-field line before warming up in the bullpen. It’s a detailed preparation he has used since the Minor Leagues, and his first inning couldn’t have been scripted much better.

After Mize used his splitter to fan Rizzo, he sent a slider diving off the outside corner to strike out fellow Cubs All-Star Javier Báez and end a clean 15-pitch first inning. By the time Rizzo came back around, the Cubs had two runs in, Mize was over the 40-pitch mark and the bases were loaded with a chance to break the game open. Mize jammed Rizzo into a first-pitch popout behind the plate to escape the jam.

The Cubs built their second-inning lead on back-to-back two-out RBI singles from David Bote and Nico Hoerner. A Jeimer Candelario error helped fuel another jam in the third, but a pair of nice plays from second baseman Jonathan Schoop — first to notice Báez breaking for home on a double-play grounder, then to range up the middle for the third out — helped Mize out of it. Once Bote pounced on a hanging slider for a 455-foot home run leading off the fourth inning, the Cubs had a 3-1 lead, and Mize’s pitches were numbered.

Mize did not get another chance at Rizzo, who instead greeted Tyler Alexander with an RBI single before Báez’s opposite-field two-run homer put Chicago in command.

Mize finished with four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts. He drew nine swings and misses, five of them on a fastball averaging 94 mph, but the Cubs hit four balls with an exit velocity of 99 mph or harder.

Jason Beck has covered the Tigers for MLB.com since 2002. Read Beck’s Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.

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