Tigers beat A's, 5-4, on Opening Day 2024 in Detroit

Jennifer Vertin and her daughter Lily Price react to the winning run being scored by Spencer Torkelson, driven in on an RBI double by Gio Urshela in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Tigers beat the Oakland A's, 5-4, on Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit to improve to 6-1.

Tigers' Mark Canha celebrates as he runs the bases after his home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Opening Day.

Tigers pitcher Alex Lange, right, reacts with catcher Carson Kelly (15) after the win.

Tony Rinna and his wife Pam, of Southgate, celebrate after Tigers defeated the Oakland A’s during Detroit’s home opener at Comerica Park.

Tigers fans Bill Whiting, Andy Weiss, 15, and Casey Allard, all of Muskegon, celebrate moments after Tigers closer Alex Lange struck out A’s batter Zack Gelof to seal a 5-4 victory on Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit.

With the giant new video scoreboard in the background, Tyler Gross and Madi Parrott of Des Moines, Iowa cheer after Tigers closer Alex Lange struck out A’s batter Zack Gelof to seal a 5-4 victory on Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Tigers’ Tarik Skubal pitches in the first inning.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws the first pitch of the game at Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park.

Athletics’ JP Sears pitches in the first inning.

Tigers’ Riley Greene swings at a pitch.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal pitches in the fourth inning.

Tigers outfielder Riley Greene makes an out in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers fans watch the game during the home opener against the Oakland A’s at Comerica Park.

Tigers’ Riley Greene singles in the fourth inning.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers a pitch in the sixth inning.

Tigers’ Matt Vierling watches a long ball go foul in the fifth inning.

Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson heads back to the dugout in the fifth inning.

Tigers’ Parker Meadows slides back to first, preventing the out by Oakland Athletics first baseman Ryan Soda in the seventh inning.

Tigers reliever Jason Foley throws in the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers pitcher Jason Foley delivers a pitch in the eighth inning.

Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson doubles in the eighth inning.

Tigers’ Mark Canha, right, reacts with home plate umpire Tripp Gibson, left, after a called third strike in the eighth inning.

Tigers reliever Andrew Chafin pitches in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers catcher Carson Kelly, left, talks with pitcher Andrew Chafin with Spencer Torkelson before a mound visit from the pitching coach in the ninth inning.

Tigers pitcher Alex Lange pitches in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers pitcher Alex Lange pitches in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers' Javier Báez makes an out in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers' Alex Lange pitches in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

Tigers' Alex Lange, Kerry Carpenter and Carson Kelly celebrate the 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics in the home opener at Comerica Park.

Tigers pitcher Alex Lange reacts near catcher Carson Kelly after the game.

From left, Tigers outfielders Riley Greene, Parker Meadows and Mark Canha react after the win.

Grace West sings the national anthem before the game.

Tigers starters and manager AJ Hinch, right, stand during the national anthem before the game at Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit.

A military flyover ends the opening ceremonies on Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit, with the giant new video scoreboard in the background.

Planes from the 107th Fighter Squad do a flyover before the Tigers' Opening Day game at Comerica Park.

Tigers fans watch the game during the Detroit Tigers’ home opener against the Oakland A’s, at Comerica Park, April 5, 2024.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game.

Pam Rinna, of Southgate, watches the game during the Detroit Tigers’ home opener against the Oakland A’s, at Comerica Park, April 5, 2024.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell reacts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.

Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry autographs a ball for Tigers fan Frankie Sedgeman, 9 before the game.

Tigers players and staff pause for a moment of silence for longtime Detroit Free Press photographer Kirthmon Dozier who passed away on Jan. 5, 2024. Dozier covered sports in Detroit for decades, including the Tigers.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers a strike for the first pitch of the game against the Oakland Athletics on Opening Day at Comerica Park.

Liam Szaroleca, 11, of Rochester Hills stands up as snow falls inside Comerica Park before the Tigers’ home opener. Szaroleca wears a Tigers jersey for his favorite MLB team and an A’s hat, which is the little league team he plays for.

Pam Rinna, of Southgate, celebrates after Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland A’s during Detroit’s home opener at Comerica Park, April 5, 2024.

Andaiye Spencer of Ypsilanti sports a cool hairstyle and some Olde English D earings while celebrating the eighth anniversary of her successful liver transplant by watching th´Tigers win on Opening Day in Detroit.

Tigers fans beyond the wall in left-centerfield watch the game while standing in front of a statue of Tigers great Willie Horton.

Fifteen-year-old Andy Weiss of Muskegon shows off the home run ball he caught in the feft field bleachers off the´bat of Tigers batter Matt Vierling in th´fourth inning on Opening Day. It was the Tigers first run and the first home run of the season at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Nate Hoekstra of Grand Rapids takes a selfie with his ten-year-old son Jack Hoekstra with the Comerica Park field in the background after the Tigers’ victory.

Two-year-old Lucas Cogley, attending his second Tigers’ Opening Day game, poses for a photo with his mother Katie Cogley, left, grandmother Jeannie Nye and aunt Lisa Nye, all of Brighton.

Ann Marie Lince of Allen Park is in full Tiger gear including feet at Tigers Opening Day.

Jane Rodgers, left, of Rochester attends her first Tigers Opening Day at age 81 along with her friend Maryann Crawford, 64, of Rochester Hills.

Kathy Ahlstrom, left, and her daughter Katelyn Ahlstrom, both of Chesterfield, react to snow beginning to fall before the game.

Carly Hatch of Garden City is in for an Opening Day doubleheader, attending the Tigers and Red Wings games on Friday. She wears an Alex DeBrincat Red Wings jersey and painted her nails blue and orange for the Tigers and red and white for the Red Wings.

Brooke Clark, left, of Novi and Carly Hatch of Garden City are planning an Opening Day doubleheader. They will attend the Tigers game during the day and the Red Wings game in the evening.

Friends and Tigers fans, from left, Caroline French of South Lyon, Alyssa Permenter of Sterling Heights and Bella Nakon of South Lyon dressed alike in Tigers gear for Opening Day. All three are students at Western Michigan University.

New Detroit Tigers television play-by-play commentator Jason Benetti is seen on the giant video scoreboard just before the game, welcoming fans to Opening Day.

Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal pitches in the first inning on Opening Day.

Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal is shown on the scoreboard during introductions at Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit on Apr. 5, 2024.

Fans listen to a band on the concourse before the game.

From left, Russ Lince of Salem, Ore., Ann Marie Lince of Allen Park and Christie Little of Taylor cheer near the start of the game at Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Tigers outfielder Riley Greene warms up before the home opener at Comerica Park.

Reed Stemler, 11, waits to get into the ballpark with his parents Sheena Stemler and Luke Stemler all of Portland for their first Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park.

Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter gets ready to sign a ball for Joe Strothers, 29, of St. Clair Shores before the home opener.

Tigers fan Barb Mantegani, left, dances with singer Sarah Rappaport of the band Collision Six as they perform on the Comerica Park concourse before the Tigers’ home opener. Mategani and her husband David Raglin flew in from their home in Washington D.C. to attend.

Collision Six singer Sarah Rappaport, saxaphone player Nick Wilczynski and guitarist Matt Rappaport perform on the Comerica Park concourse before the Tigers’ home opener.

Tigers pitcher Alex Faedo signs a ball for Kinsler Valla, 6, (named after Ian Kinsler) with his parents Amy Valla and Kyle Valla, all of Marysville, before the home opener.

Lucas Berk, 19, of Woodhaven take a photo of the ball that was tossed to him during warm-ups.

Jen, 58, and Bob Smith, 65, of Glen Arbor take in the scene before the Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park. Bob, who turns 65 on Monday, says he has been to probably 60 opening days.

Tigers outfielders Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows walk in towards the dugout before the home opener.

Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter signs autographs for fans before the home opener.

The new giant Comerica Park video scoreboard greets baseball fans as the 5-1 Tigers return to Detroit to host the 1-6 Oakland Athletics in the home opener.

Addison Poirier, 9, of Clyde, Michigan, is excited about attending her first Detroit Tigers Opening Day with her family.

From left, Chris Skowronek, 27, of Redford, Jadon Mills, 27, of Detroit, and Brandon White 27, of Woodhaven, are ready for the Detroit Tigers home opener.

Detroit Mounted Police officer Karl Gunter on duty, greeting the early morning Tiger fans arrival to Comerica Park for the home opener against the Oakland Athletics.

Rick Rentz, 54, of Detroit cooks bacon for BLT sandwiches before the Tigers' home opener at Comerica Park.

John Ladensack of Chesterfield Township is ready for the Detroit Tigers Opening Day with his family.

Detroit Mounted Police officer Karl Gunter and Sandra Chavez pose for a photo with the Detroit Tigers Squad as early morning Tiger fans arrive to Comerica Park for the home opener against the Oakland Athletics.

The Detroit Tigers Energy Squad dance at the Opening Day tailgate party.

The sun is shining and the giant new video scoreboard in left field is on display from inside the press box at Comerica Park in Detroit on Opening Day.

Liam Szaroleca, 11, and his dad Ryan Szaroleca of Rochester Hills are ready for some fun at Opening Day in Detroit.

Fans stream out of the stadium after the Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland A’s during Detroit’s home opener at Comerica Park, April 5, 2024.