Kevin McGonigle clutch hit sends Tigers to 5-2 win over Padres

SAN DIEGO – Left-hander Framber Valdez met expectations in his Detroit Tigers debut. The 32-year-old kept the ball on the ground for easy outs, filled up the strike zone and limited the San Diego Padres to two runs across six innings, needing just 83 pitches. It's everything anyone could've wanted from Valdez, who signed a lucrative two-year contract in free agency after eight seasons with the Houston Astros.

The Tigers didn't provide enough run support in the early innings, but top prospect Kevin McGonigle delivered in the later innings . Following Valdez's efficiency, the Tigers secured a 5-2 win over the Padres on Friday, March 27, at Petco Park, thanks to a four-run eighth inning. The highlight of that inning: McGonigle won a 10-pitch battle with two outs against left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta, driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-run single.

HE IS HIM: Four hits, no fear: Kevin McGonigle arrives with historic MLB debut The McGonigle-led Tigers (2-0) have a chance to sweep the Padres (0-2) on Saturday (8:40 p. m. , Detroit SportsNet) after winning the first two games in the three-game series.

Everything fell apart of the Padres when right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada took the mound in the eighth inning. Estrada walked three batters in a row with one out: Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith. After that, Riley Greene sawed-off an up-and-in fastball for a slow roller on the left side of the infield that led to no play, allowing a run to score for a 2-2 tie and keeping the bases loaded.