Gio Urshela delivers big hit as Tigers beat Mets in Game 1 of DH

Gio Urshela’s had three hits — including a two-run single that capped a three-run 11th inning — for the visiting Detroit Tigers, who overcame a three-run deficit to beat the New York Mets 6-3 in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday.

The games between the teams Tuesday and Wednesday were postponed due to heavy rains.

Colt Keith snapped a 3-3 tie with a one-out run-scoring double for the Tigers, who trailed 3-0 before earning their fifth straight win — the longest season-opening winning streak for Detroit since it opened 6-0 in 2016.

Andy Ibanez delivered a sacrifice fly to get the Tigers on the board in the sixth inning, and Riley Greene hit a game-tying homer in the eighth for the Tigers. Urshela scored Detroit’s second run on a wild pitch.

Francisco Alvarez (two-run double) and Brett Baty (single) had RBI hits for the Mets, who are 0-5 for the first time since 2005.

Tigers starter Casey Mize allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings in his first big league appearance since April 14, 2022. Mize missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery as well as a back surgery.

Mets starter Adrian Houser gave up one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three over five-plus innings.

The Mets, who entered Thursday with just eight runs in four games, took the lead with a two-out rally in the third. Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch and Pete Alonso singled before both scored on Alvarez’s double down the third-base line.

Alonso singled with one out in the fifth, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Baty’s two-out single.

Houser carried a shutout into the sixth, when he exited after walking leadoff batter Parker Meadows and surrendering a single to Spencer Torkelson. Ibanez, pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter, followed with a sacrifice fly against Brooks Raley.

The Tigers inched closer in the seventh, when Urshela singled with two outs and Zach McKinstry walked before the runners advanced a base apiece on a passed ball charged to Alvarez and a wild pitch by Jake Diekman.

Greene tied the score with a one-out homer in the eighth against Adam Ottavino.

–Field Level Media