ARLINGTON -- Daniel Norris' 54-pitch first inning on Tuesday night was the longest inning of any kind by a Major League pitcher since former Pirates starter Paul Maholm threw a 54-pitch third inning against the Cardinals on May 9, 2010, according to STATS. It was the longest opening inning since Wandy Rodriguez threw 55 pitches for the Astros in Atlanta on Aug. 1, 2007.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus' response to criticism in some circles about letting his 22-year-old rookie left-hander throw that many pitches in the first inning, then come back out for the second, was comparatively short.