The Detroit Tigers trotted out their front-line major league lineup Friday afternoon at newly renovated Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, but the collection of part-time players, prospects and auditioning journeymen that opened the Grapefruit League season for the Orioles apparently didn’t notice.
The big-swinging Tigers were quiet as kittens at the plate and the Orioles managed to scratch out a run here and there to score an unlikely 2-0 victory that featured a number of nice first impressions and unexpected debuts.
Starting pitcher Tyler Wilson got off to a terrific start, dispatching the six well-heeled Tigers hitters he faced and needed just 21 pitches to do it.