LAKELAND, Florida – When Detroit Tigers shortstop Willi Castro made a home run to lead at the end of the first inning, the resulting applause came from genuine enthusiasm – not from a team member pressing a button on the sound system to increase the artificial noise from the crowd.
Having fans in the stands – even just 2,000 of them in socially distant groups – made the Tigers’ first game in the spring much sweeter.
The Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 on Sunday afternoon at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, their first game with real fans since the global pandemic ended baseball and other professional sports last March.
“They could be booing, they could be cheering. Whatever it was, it was nice to have them out there, ”said Holland. “It’s just electric. It’s great when you go there and see that there are really people in the stands, instead of dressing like you’re sitting. “
Most of Sunday afternoon, fans screamed. (At least Tigers fans).
Detroit scored six races in a first inning that featured Castro’s initial home run followed by three singles and five walks. It was a miserable start for veteran right-handed Ivan Nova, who is trying to make the Phillies in a secondary league after spending 2020 with the Tigers.
“In the first inning, I thought the quality of the strokes was exceptional,” said Tigers coach AJ Hinch.
Hinch and Phillies coach Joe Girardi agreed to end the inning with two outs and loaded bases after the Tigers defeated Nova and the appeasement Jonathan Hennigan.
Tigers starter Tyler Alexander withdrew from two runs in two innings, including a home run for Adam Haseley on the second pitch of the game. But five appeasers – The Netherlands, Alex Lange, Ian Krol, Robbie Ross Jr. and Drew Carlton – have combined to launch five shutout entries.
Daniel Pinero and Eric Haase added solo home runs.
The game lasted only seven entries, as planned, but at 2 hours and 48 minutes on an exceptionally hot day, it was more than enough.
“I thank all the fans who came here today,” said Hinch. “The best way to get back to normal is to have fans in the stands for the game. Even in a small spring training game with limited capacity, you can feel a tangible difference. “
Detroit Tigers shortstop Willi Castro places a grounder during a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on February 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit Tigers)Allison Farrand