GOOD NEWS: Detroit Tigers’ star finally makes decision to stay.

The Detroit Tigers rallied with back-to-back two-out singles in the eighth inning to beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (10-7) and Rangers (9-9) have split the first two games of the four-game series.

The Rangers turned to lefty Jacob Latz to face hot-hitting left-handed hitter Kerry Carpenter with two outs and one on in the eighth. Manager A.J. Hinch countered with right-handed pinch-hitter Matt Vierling, who singled to right to put runners at the corner. Then Gio Urshela added another single to put the Tigers ahead. Vierling scored a critical insurance run on a wild pitch.

“It’s kind of how everybody expects us to play, so I don’t think there are a lot of secrets,” Hinch said. “It’s just a matter of the situation developing and then having our guys ready. The situation really dictated what to do.

“When it comes to Carp’s at-bat, I know how well he swings the bat. He’s going to get his chance against lefties. I know nobody believes it because I keep hitting for him, but it’s hard to leave Vierling on the bench when he can create some havoc. We have Gio right behind him. We had a run of matchups that we really liked.”

The Tigers had desperately been seeking clutch hits after going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 1-0 loss to Texas in the series opener on Monday night.

Tigers starter Casey Mize allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out six without a walk. It was his longest outing since Aug. 30, 2021, his final start before the Tigers started tapering down his workload that year. He made only two starts in 2022 and then missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“I don’t know if I really planned on how it would go (this season),” he said. “I think it’s just one foot in front of the other each time out. I’ve done some good things but I’ve also done some things that I need to improve on. So I’m not going to pat myself on the back and congratulate myself or look down on it.”

Tigers

Although Carpenter left the game at the critical moment in the eighth, his bat may have been the only reason the Tigers were still in the game at that point.

Carpenter smashed a 414-foot triple to lead off the second. Javier Baez drew a two-out walk, his first of the season in 51 plate appearances, but Parker Meadows popped out to end the threat.

Carpenter hit another ball to the fence in the sixth inning. The RBI double scored Zach McKinstry, who had reached on a single.

Tigers reliever Alex Lange pitched a scoreless seventh inning and lefty Andrew Chafin retired all four batters he faced, three by strikeout.

Jason Foley got into trouble in the ninth, giving up a single to Wyatt Langford and walking Josh Smith. But Adolis Garcia flied out to end the game, giving the Tigers their 10th victory of the season.

“I like that we are going to play our 27 outs, and I don’t mean that as a cliche,” Hinch said. “It’s a competitiveness that we are never out of it because this pitching staff is going to keep us close.”