How a Detroit Tigers fan watched his son fight Casey Mize

The real deal

Mize was nervous at first. He hit the first batter he faced, a throw that seemed to slip out of his hand and graze the batter early in the game in the back, but he managed to get out of the traffic early by inducing a double balloon.

After that, he simply rolled, looking comfortable and confident, efficient and comfortable, inducing a soft touch and avoiding trouble.

But Vieaux also launched a jewel, scattering four hits in the first three innings.

I watched the game from home, broadcast live on my big screen TV while listening to the Erie radio on my phone.

But I did not stop thinking about Brian.

"Mize is the real deal," Brian Vieaux wrote midway through the game. "Veal is not bad."

And he finished with a smiling emoji in dark hues.

How did it go?

Mize easily managed the first two innings, battling the minimum number of batters, eliminating two. No one could blame him, and it seemed like he had an instant connection with receiver Jake Rogers, who not only has a great arm, but who is fantastic at running a pitcher in a game.

"A great merit from Jake Rogers behind the set he took a hell game," said Mize in an interview posted on Erie SeaWolves' Twitter account. "Hat in my defense."

Even if the goal score did not show, Mize has benefited from all kinds of fantastic defensive games.

In the third inning, Derek Hill took a dive into a shallow center to avoid a hit. Left-hander Cam Gibson showed his blazing speed and made a good game. He ran to the wall to catch a long flying ball and end the fourth inning.

Gibson, it must be pointed out, played with Cam at the MSU.

And Brian texted me with Gibson's photo, facing his old friend.

Josh Lester went behind the third goal to grab a ball and right-field player Jose Azocar made a nice slippery game to win a hit.

Hill grabbed a bullet over his shoulder that ran easily to the wall to finish the fifth.

"It was definitely one of those days when I felt like I was on autopilot," said Mize in an interview with Twitter.

Mize threw only four shots in the sixth inning, while Isaac Paredes was well placed to play beyond the infield.

In the seventh inning, second baseman Sergio Alcantara went to the other side of the bag to pick up an attacker and eliminate him quickly.

The performance was a testimony of Mize, no doubt, but it was also a tribute to SeaWolves' defense.

"The fastball drive was not good, it was the worst it was all year," said Mize. "Then I threw a ton of knives. And just counted on that. I was able to launch this for a strike in a lot of cases. I think it was the biggest thing. I'm just trying to have an early contact. "

This shows all kinds of maturity for a young pitcher to learn to pitch. This could be the most exciting news for Tigers fans.

Mize was promoted to Erie after dominating at Single-A Lakeland. He allowed only one pass as he eliminated 25 batters in 26 innings.

"Excited," said Mize. "Maybe a little nervous. My fastball order was not very good today, I think maybe it's because of nervousness. "

TO CLOSE

Casey Mize reacts after a draw in his Double-A debut with the Erie SeaWolves on Monday, April 29, 2019 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Erie SeaWolves, Detroit Free Press

Proud dads

In the end, Mize had his non-hitter.

But Cam Vieaux also launched a little gem. He pitched seven innings, scattering six hits, with two walks and one withdrawal, while leaving only one point.

"It was surreal," said Brian Vieaux. "I should have taken a video of my wife (Amy). She is agonizing with every step. She probably lost 10 pounds while shaking.

After the match, Cam posed for a picture with his parents. They planned to go out for dinner.

Then I saw a Tweet of Anthony Fenech, the author of the Tigers for Free Press.

He texted Casey Mize's father, Jason, and his answer was telling.

"Did he have a good outing? Busy at work …" Jason, Casey Mize's father, sent a text message. He cut the grass because "my number one guy was pitching," he said.