HOUSTON — Matt Vierling would be lying if he said he didn’t think about it. When he walked through the doors of the visiting clubhouse at Minute Maid Park on Monday, there were flashbacks. In this ballpark, Vierling experienced some of the most memorable moments, good and bad, of last year’s stretch run with the Phillies. Philadelphia ended the regular season here. The Phillies also played three World Series games in this park. It is where their magical run came to an end.
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Strange, then, for Vierling to walk back through those doors under such different circ*mstances.
New year, new team, new world.
“Being back here was a little weird,” Vierling said. “During the game, too.”
Monday, though, Vierling showed exactly why the Tigers traded for him this offseason. The Tigers came into Houston limping after the Rays outscored them 21-3 in an opening-series sweep. The clubhouse Sunday evening in Tampa was tomblike. But in the spirit of a new day, Vierling helped bring some of last year’s positive energy to Detroit’s second series. Written on the whiteboard outside the locker room Monday: A great day to WIN.
Win the Tigers did. They beat the Astros 7-6 in 11 innings, somehow earning their first victory this season in a game full of twists and turns, dramatic home runs, defensive marvels and mishaps, a duct-taped bullpen and finally a raucous clubhouse celebration.
Many players contributed Monday. Rule 5 pick Mason Englert, who threw three scoreless innings of key relief, was chief among them. But the victory would not have happened without Vierling, in more ways than one. He went 4-for-5, showing off the full array of his abilities. He put the Tigers ahead for good in the top of the 11th when he crushed a 1-0 sinker from Hector Neris to dead center, good for a two-run home run that traveled 426 feet.
Four-hit game for Matt Vierling and this one was CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/vqWk1Rha3g
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 4, 2023
“I think that’s a huge win for us,” Vierling said, “and huge to get that (first win) out of the way.”
Vierling also had three singles, including an infield hit he churned down the first-base line to beat out in the fourth inning.
As dramatic as Vierling’s home run was, his biggest contribution might have come in the fifth inning when Tigers reliever José Cisnero had already given up a three-run shot to Yordan Alvarez and found himself backed up on the ropes, wobbling. Houston had the bases loaded when Mauricio Dubón hit a slicing line drive to right field.
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Before the play, after Cisnero got Dubón into a two-strike count, Vierling looked over from right to center fielder Riley Greene. He motioned and indicated he planned to cheat in and toward the line, expecting the possibility of a soft-hit line drive. Greene was to cover the right-field gap. So when the ball left Dubón’s bat, it played right into Vierling’s plan. He got a perfect beat on the ball as Greene sprinted over.
“Don’t think I’ve ever ran that fast to back someone up before,” Greene said.
Vierling dived and slid across the grass. He came up with the ball and a catch that might have saved the game.
“I love the route he took on that ball. I love the guts to dive after it and not play it safe,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
Little did anyone know Vierling’s biggest moment was still to come. His home run was a reminder of his power potential that has not been fully realized.
“I feel like me and Nick (Maton) and a couple other people have been in some pressure-packed games (in Houston),” Vierling said. “It definitely helped.”
After the game, Hinch spoke outside the Tigers clubhouse, the joyous yells piercing through the walls. Hinch, who had been left to answer for the Tigers’ tough opening series, cracked a smile as the cheers crescendoed. And once the clubhouse doors opened, there was Vierling, beer in hand, pants covered in dirt, a warrior celebrating a victory.
“You beat a good team like that and you compete with them to the very end, I think it shows a lot of character,” Vierling said. “You kind of build on that throughout the year.”
There are still plenty of questions about Vierling’s game. Can he hit the ball in the air consistently enough? Can he tap into some pull-side power? Can his outfield instincts match his natural speed? Will Vierling, Maton and Donny Sands ultimately be worth trading former closer Gregory Soto?
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Vierling came to the Tigers as a Statcast darling hailed for high exit velocities and high-end sprint speed. But he had an 88 OPS+ through his first 441 MLB plate appearances. He is the early poster child of Scott Harris’ experiment with the Tigers: trying to maximize potential and attempting to turn a fourth outfielder into an everyday player with a high ceiling.
“He’s a complete player with his skills,” Hinch said. “Obviously, he needs to gain some experience. He’s got World Series experience, but he still hasn’t played a ton at this level. He can be very dynamic on both sides of the ball. He’s got a ton of tools.”
One victory does not erase the flaws of the Tigers’ roster. One great game only tells us so much about Vierling’s ability. But for a night, Vierling played like the best version of himself. And for a night, it made all the difference.
In the back corner of the clubhouse, Greene talked about Vierling, about the highs and lows of the game. Asked what the victory meant for the Tigers, Greene raised his hand high above his head.
“It brings the morale way up here.”
(Photo of Matt Vierling and Spencer Torkelson: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
Cody Stavenhagen is a staff writer covering the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball for The Athletic. Previously, he covered Michigan football at The Athletic and Oklahoma football and basketball for the Tulsa World, where he was named APSE Beat Writer of the Year for his circulation group in 2016. He is a native of Amarillo, Texas. Follow Cody on Twitter @CodyStavenhagen
