Detroit ― Fans got fireworks before the game, as part of the Opening Day hoopla.
Then, they got fireworks during the game, courtesy of slugger Kerry Carpenter, who had two home runs through the first five innings of the Tigers’ home-opener against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,735 on Friday afternoon.
Carpenter became the third Tiger with multiple home runs on Opening Day at Comerica Park, which opened in 2000. He joined Prince Fielder, who hit two in 2013, and Dmitri Young, who hit three in 2005, 20 years ago today.
Carpenter got the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the first inning, when he pulled a ball just off the foul pole in right field. It initially was ruled foul, then quickly changed to fair, as Carpenter resumed his home-run trot.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Carpenter went deep again, this time the opposite way, to left field.
The homer in the first came off White Sox right-handed starter Jonathan Cannon, while the home run in the fifth came off a left-hander, White Sox reliever Brandon Eisert. The two home runs gave Carpenter 46 for his brief career, and just five of those have come against left-handers.
Those were the first two home runs of the season for Carpenter, who had 18 home runs in 2024 and 20 home runs in 2023, playing mostly against right-handed starters and pinch-hitting against right-handed relievers.
The Tigers led the White Sox, 7-1, through seven innings.
@tonypaul1984
