Spencer Torkelson hit a home run for the fifth straight game, tying a Detroit Tigers franchise record in an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The 421-foot drive to left-center off reliever Pierce Johnson provided insurance in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Torkelson joins Hank Greenberg, Rudy York, Vic Wertz, Willie Horton and Marcus Thames in Tigers history.
Torkelson entered the week batting below .200 without a home run this season, but manager A.J. Hinch expressed faith in his metrics. The streak began Wednesday with a homer off Milwaukee's Chad Patrick at Comerica Park, followed by a walkoff against Abner Uribe on Thursday, a go-ahead blast versus Reds reliever Tony Santillan on Friday, and an opposite-field shot off Brady Singer on Saturday. This marked the first four-game streak for a Tiger since Ian Kinsler in 2016. The streak also matches Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami for the longest in Major League Baseball this season. Reds manager Terry Francona noted Torkelson's strength after keeping him off fastballs much of the series. Torkelson credited his approach: “Just seeing the ball well, and just proud of the way I've stuck with my plan and my approach, and putting my A-swing on a lot of pitches.” Teammate Riley Greene praised his cage work paying off on the field. Torkelson called the record-holders “Legends.” During the streak, Torkelson improved dramatically against fastballs, slugging 1.667 after earlier struggles. He heads to Atlanta on Tuesday facing the Braves with a shot at a sixth straight homer, last achieved in MLB by Rafael Devers in 2024.
