Things could’ve gone one of two ways for starting pitchers Tyler Mahle and Marcus Stroman after disastrous first innings Tuesday, and they took divergent paths.
Mahle allowed three runs and three hits in a 25-pitch top of the first inning, including a two-run homer to Frank Schwindel that landed in the first row of seats beyond the right-field wall. Stroman needed 37 pitches to complete the bottom of the first inning, giving up four singles and two runs.
By the end of the fifth inning, Stroman tapped his chest in celebration as he walked off the mound.