Rookie's debut a bright spot on long day

CHICAGO -- Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire spoke recently about the Tigers continuing to give players chances to show what they can do at the Major League level, and with Detroit still in the early stages of a rebuild, there’s nothing but opportunity for young players to take hold of.

Rookie left-hander Tyler Alexander did just that in Detroit’s 9-6 loss to the White Sox in Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Tigers dropped Game 1, 7-5.

• Box score

Alexander told reporters prior to Tuesday’s postponed game that he wasn’t even expecting the callup, but he wasted no time making a good first impression in his Major League debut as the Tigers’ 26th man.

“The past two days I’ve been extremely nervous,” Alexander said. “When I went out to warm up before the game, I went out a little earlier than I normally do and kind of hung out with [catcher] Bobby [Wilson] for a while, and it just kind of went away.”

That was evident from the start. The rookie southpaw’s night began on a high as he punched out White Sox leadoff man Leury Garcia to start the game with his first Major League strikeout.

But things turned quickly as he followed the strikeout by surrendering a home run to the next hitter, Yoan Moncada.

In a moment that could rattle many rookie pitchers in a debut, Alexander picked a different approach to rest himself.

“I wanted to laugh, but I can’t [on the mound]. Homers have always been something that has been my kryptonite. I’ve given up a lot of homers,” he said with a smile. “So I laughed on the inside and was like, ‘Ok, no more after that’”

In his own way, it helped settle him and he proceeded to lock in and didn’t allow another run to cross until a fifth-inning solo shot by Ryan Cordell.

“I told him to take it in,” Wilson said. “You never know when it’s going to be your last day. Just told him to enjoy it. I was proud of him.”

The 2015 second-round Draft pick’s season hasn’t been one that would usually call for a midseason promotion to the big leagues, as he was 2-9 with a 6.23 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A Toledo, but Wednesday night represented a fresh start.

His manager’s only request? Throw strikes.

Alexander obliged by throwing 57 of his 84 pitches for strikes (67 percent) over five innings while allowing just two earned runs. He struck out four without issuing a walk en route to a tough no-decision.

“Outstanding,” Gardenhire said. “Kid comes up here and throws five solid innings. He was really in control and comfortable against a team that can really hit the ball a long way.

“We’re real proud of him. That was exciting. He’s got some kind of memory to go back down with and get himself back up here.”

With Detroit’s rotation short-handed and looking for reliable arms, Alexander’s performance was not just important for him in the short term, but the long term, as well.

While he is headed back to Triple-A, Alexander may get his next shot sooner rather than later, especially with rumors of a Matthew Boyd trade continuing to swirl just four weeks from the July 31 Trade Deadline and the Tigers needing innings as the second half begins.

Alexander knows the opportunity can be his to take.

“I’m going to keep working and keep doing the stuff that I have been doing [lately] to get here," the 24-year-old said. "Try not to do anything more. Just be myself. That’s what got me here. It’ll get me back.”