Tuesday night's game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins had a Natural State flavor.
Detroit pitcher Drew Smyly caught the ceremonial first pitch from Arkansas governor Mike Beebe prior to the game at Comerica Park, and then threw an inning of scoreless relief in the Tigers' 6-1 win. Smyly walked a batter and allowed a hit in the eighth inning.
Beebe, who is a lifelong Tigers fan, was in Detroit for a meeting. Smyly is a former University of Arkansas standout from Little Rock.
Smyly has pitched in nine games this season for the Tigers, including one start. The left-hander has a 1.50 earned run average in 18 innings and has recorded one save. He threw nine pitches in Detroit's win over the Twins on Monday, retiring both batters he faced.
Torii Hunter, a Pine Bluff native, also got in on the fun Tuesday, recording an RBI double and scoring a run. The outfielder, acquired by the Tigers in the offseason, is batting .370 this season.