The Detroit Tigers clinched a nail-biting victory against the New York Yankees in the MLB Little League Classic, held at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game, which stretched into extra innings, ended with a 3-2 score in favor of the Tigers.
Game Highlights
- Tied at the Ninth: The Tigers’ rookie Jace Jung leveled the score at 1-1 with a clutch RBI single against Yankees closer Clay Holmes.
- Extra Innings Drama: DJ LeMahieu put the Yankees ahead 2-1 in the 10th, but the Tigers quickly responded.
- Winning Moment: Parker Meadows sealed the deal for Detroit with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th.
Yankees vs Tigers: Player Stats
Yankees
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
| G. Torres 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .237 |
| J. Soto RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .300 |
| A. Judge CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .331 |
| G. Stanton DH | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .242 |
| T. Grisham PR-DH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .192 |
| J. Dominguez LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| J. Trevino C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .243 |
| A. Wells PH-C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .252 |
| A. Volpe SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .247 |
| D. LeMahieu 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .194 |
| B. Rice PR-1B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .188 |
| O. Peraza 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| O. Cabrera PH-3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .251 |
Notes:
- a-flied out for Trevino in the 7th
- b-lined out for Peraza in the 7th
BATTING
- RBI: D. LeMahieu (24)
- Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out: O. Cabrera
FIELDING
- Outfield Assist: A. Judge
| PITCHERS | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| M. Stroman | 6.0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3.82 |
| L. Weaver (H, 21) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3.39 |
| T. Kahnle (H, 11) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.74 |
| C. Holmes (BS, 10) | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2.88 |
| M. Leiter (L, 3-5) (BS, 3) | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.74 |
PITCHING
- Pitches-Strikes: M. Stroman 87-53, L. Weaver 12-8, T. Kahnle 13-10, C. Holmes 22-13, M. Leiter 6-4
- Ground Balls-Fly Balls: M. Stroman 5-7, T. Kahnle 2-0, C. Holmes 1-0, M. Leiter 2-0
- Batters Faced: M. Stroman 24, L. Weaver 3, T. Kahnle 3, C. Holmes 5, M. Leiter 2
Tigers
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
| P. Meadows CF | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | .208 |
| R. Greene DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .261 |
| M. Vierling LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .253 |
| K. Carpenter RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .279 |
| C. Keith 2B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .256 |
| S. Torkelson 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .205 |
| J. Jung 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .333 |
| T. Sweeney SS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .143 |
| J. Rogers C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .192 |
| Z. McKinstry PH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .197 |
Note:
- a-singled for Rogers in the 10th
BATTING
- 2B: P. Meadows (5), C. Keith (12)
- RBI: P. Meadows (10), J. Jung, Z. McKinstry (19)
- 2-Out RBI: J. Jung
- Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out: R. Greene, S. Torkelson
BASERUNNING
- SB: P. Meadows (9), Z. McKinstry (10)
FIELDING
- DP: 3 (Sweeney-Keith-Torkelson; Jung-Keith-Torkelson; Keith-Sweeney-Torkelson)
| PITCHERS | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| T. Skubal | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2.49 |
| B. Hanifee | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.69 |
| W. Vest | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3.19 |
| S. Miller | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5.24 |
| B. Brieske (W, 2-3) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4.43 |
PITCHING
- Pitches-Strikes: T. Skubal 100-61, B. Hanifee 11-6, W. Vest 19-13, S. Miller 18-12, B. Brieske 7-6
- Ground Balls-Fly Balls: T. Skubal 9-2, B. Hanifee 2-1, S. Miller 0-3, B. Brieske 2-0
- Batters Faced: T. Skubal 23, B. Hanifee 4, W. Vest 3, S. Miller 4, B. Brieske 3
Standout Performances
- Parker Meadows (Tigers): Delivered the game-winning hit
- Tarik Skubal (Tigers): Pitched a strong game, keeping the Yankees’ potent lineup in check
- Marcus Stroman (Yankees): Threw six shutout innings with five strikeouts
Little League Atmosphere
The game was played in front of a unique crowd of 2,532 fans, mostly comprised of Little Leaguers, their coaches, and families. This special setting created a memorable experience for both players and spectators alike.
- Players interacted with Little Leaguers before and during the game
- Concession prices were kept kid-friendly at $3 for popular items
- Australian Little League players served as PA announcers for part of the game
Aaron Judge: Star of the Show
While the Yankees fell short on the scoreboard, Aaron Judge was undoubtedly the main attraction for the young fans:
- Received a rock-star welcome from Little Leaguers
- Signed autographs and took selfies with excited kids
- Traded Yankees gear for a Little League hat and collectible pins
Looking Ahead
- Yankees: Have a day off before starting a six-game homestand
- Tigers: Begin a seven-game road trip in Chicago
Final Thoughts
The MLB Little League Classic once again proved to be a unique and exciting event, blending professional baseball with the spirit of youth sports.
Despite the loss, the Yankees, especially Aaron Judge, made a lasting impact on the young fans in attendance. The Tigers’ victory in extra innings provided a thrilling conclusion to a memorable night in Williamsport.
