SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Kevin McGonigle hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning to continue his dazzling start and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5-2 win against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth on 11 pitches in his Tigers debut for his 477th career save, which leads all active pitchers and is fourth all-time.
The 21-year-old McGonigle, who was robbed of his first home run by center fielder Jackson Merrill in the second, worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Wandy Peralta in a lefty-on-lefty matchup that culminated with a single to right field that brought in Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith for a 4-2 lead.
McGonigle had a brilliant debut on Thursday. He hit the first big league pitch he saw for a bases-loaded, two-run double, and finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-2 win. After just 46 games last season in Double-A, the multiposition infielder made Detroit’s major league roster with a strong spring that allowed him to skip Triple-A entirely.
Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada (0-1) couldn't hold a 2-1 lead in the eighth. He walked the bases loaded before Kerry Carpenter scored on Riley Greene's single to shortstop. After striking out Spencer Torkelson, Estrada made way for Peralta.
Merrill made a sensational leaping catch to rob McGonigle of a homer in the second, getting his glove well above the wall just in front of the 396 sign.
Framber Valdez allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one in his Tigers debut. Valdez, the longtime Astros ace, signed a $115 million free-agent deal last month.
Enmanuel De Jesus (1-0) got the win.
Ramón Laureano hit an RBI double off Valdez with two outs in the sixth for a 2-1 Padres lead.
Catcher Luis Campusano went 2-for-3 in the Padres' first challenges via the Automated Ball-Strike System.
Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA in 2025) and Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (6-7, 3.84) are set to start Saturday night's series finale. Both teams have Sunday off.
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San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, March 27, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Friday, March 27, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Detroit Tigers' Kevin McGonigle (7) hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Friday, March 27, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
CHICAGO (AP) — When it comes to blocking shots, Aday Mara is the 7-foot-3 center of attention for Michigan.
This time, he had some company.
The Wolverines ramped up their defensive intensity in the second half of Friday night's 90-77 win over Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. They limited the Crimson Tide to 28 points and 32% shooting after they struggled to contain Labaron Philon Jr. and company early on.
Nimari Burnett helped set the tone when he blocked a 3-point attempt by Latrell Wrightsell Jr. with 18:02 left. Roddy Gayle Jr. blocked another 3-point try by Wrightsell with 17:10 remaining, and he rejected a long-range shot by Houston Mallette with 13:44 to go.
“When that happens, as shooters, you typically, when you get one or two blocks you start looking around instead of focusing on what you need to be looking at,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “I do think that had an effect on their shooting, especially the last eight or 10 minutes.”
Of course, Mara had two of the Wolverines' eight blocks for the game. He is up to 98 blocks on the year, breaking Roy Tarpley's school record of 97 from the 1985-86 season.
The last time Michigan played in Chicago, it surrendered 42 points in the second half of an 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship on March 15.
“Our personality is really on the defensive side, so we really got to that,” Gayle said. “Also, playing the first half we kind of understood what kind of game it was going to be, so I’m really proud of how our guys adapted to the circumstances.”
Michigan trailed Alabama 49-47 at the break after Philon scored 19 of his 35 points in the first half. The Crimson Tide went 9 for 24 from 3-point range in the early going.
“I would say we tried to pretty much get into an offensive match with those guys,” said Yaxel Lendeborg, who had 23 points for the Wolverines. “You know, we’re not that kind of team. They’re a way better offensive team than we are. Once we started slowing the game down, being a lot more physical, and trying to dominate the paint, we started finding more success.
“Our defense started coming alive, and that really helped us out. It helped our confidence.”
Michigan turned its second-half defense into points on the other end.
Lendeborg stepped in front of an Alabama pass along the baseline and threw the ball ahead to Nimari Burnett for a fast-break dunk that gave the Wolverines a 54-51 lead with 17:04 left. A steal by Elliot Cadeau turned into a layup by Trey McKenney that made it 67-57 with 13:23 remaining.
“I felt like in the first half we let them, you know, get a lot of open 3-pointers,” McKenney said. “I think in the second half we were early in the gap and then we got out, and we made them shoot tougher shots. I think that was why the result was at the end of the game.”
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Alabama's Aiden Sherrell (22) wipes his face after losing to Michigan in a Sweet 16 NCAA college basketball tournament game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. (21) reaches for a rebound between teammate Will Tschetter, right, and Alabama's Amari Allen, left, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates after defeating Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
