Stones of the Yarra Valley

Detroit Tigers, Game 2: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

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The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Padres on Friday:

One thing I loved

Framber Valdez made his debut start for the Tigers, and it was an impressive first impression. Specifically, there was one poignant moment in the bottom of the first inning.

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Third baseman Kevin McGonigle, the Tigers' heralded rookie, made a nice play on a slow grounder to start the game. Then, the next batter, Xander Bogaerts, hit an even slower roller toward McGonigle, and that one he couldn't handle.

It was a tough play — and he probably doesn't get Bogaerts, even if he fields it cleanly — but it was the first sign in two days that McGonigle is, indeed, human. And Valdez was there to say it's OK, kid.

Valdez went right over to McGonigle and patted him on the chest, the vet encouraging the rookie. And Valdez, a left-hander who signed a three-year, $115-million contract this winter, was immediately rewarded with good karma, when Manny Machado hit into an inning-ending double play.

Twas a quality start for Valdez, in more ways than one.

Speaking of quality starts, that McGonigle guy ...

One thing I didn't

Woof, Kerry Carpenter.

The Tigers slugger is hitless so far, with two strikeouts in the season opener Thursday, and three more in Friday's game — in each of his first three times up. On the last two strikeouts, he left runners in scoring position.

It was the 11th three-K game of Carpenter's career, the third coming before May 1. Worth noting, Carpenter traditionally is a slow starter. His OPS in March/April is .766; in May, it's .873.

Carpenter did walk his last two times up Friday, the first in the middle of a go-ahead rally in the eighth inning.

Three stars

â–¶ Detroit SportsNet's Daniella Bruce (to Jason Benetti, who missed the Tigers' season opener for an NBC assignment: "I don't even know when you're in town")

â–¶ Framber Valdez

â–¶ Kenley Jansen

Player of the game

(Season total in parentheses)

â–¶ Kevin McGonigle (2)

Next Tigers game

â–¶ Game 3: Tigers at Padres, 8:40 Saturday, DSN, 97.1

ICYMI: Yesterday's Tigers recap

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@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 2: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

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