The Detroit Tigers owned a huge first inning to help take down the Atlanta Braves, 12-2 in spring training play.
Anthony Gose led the game off with a triple and the Tigers never looked back in the contest. After two outs, Tyler Collins got lucky and reached on a fielding error made by Alberto Callaspo. Then all heck broke loose against Braves right-handed starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.
Still in the first, Jordan Lennerton and James McCann both hit singles and Hernan Perez and Andrew Romine drew back-to-back walks. The bases were loaded at the time, so that scored Lennerton.
Todd Coffey replaced Foltynewicz and immediately gave up two runs off the bat of Josh Wilson. He singled to give Detroit a 5-0 lead in the first.
Wilson got the start because Ian Kinsler was scratched. He was being bothered by his left shoulder feeling stiff. He has been reported day-to-day by the Tigers.
Shane Greene got the start for the Tigers, it was his second start of spring training. He went three innings and gave up zero runs on zero hits while striking out three hitters.
In his first outing, Greene gave up three runs on six hits over two innings. That game was on March 8 against the Houston Astros. It was an start that he does not ever want to remeber, especially since it was his first.
"I threw a lot of good change-ups today that I was happy with," Greene said to George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. "I was locating my sinker on both sides of the plate. I was happy with that. Threw a couple fastballs up in the zone late. Couple got away from me, but overall, felt really good."
Jose Iglesias started for the second straight game, but went 0-for-3 in the win. He missed the entire 2014 season with fractured shins.
On Saturday, the Tigers have two games. They will send right-hander Anibal Sanchez to the mound to start against the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 PM EST in Lakeland. Left-hander Kyle Lobstein will get the mound at 1:05 PM EST in Tampa against the New York Yankees.