DETROIT -- Chris Paddack and his potential rotation replacement were both hit hard on Tuesday night, as the New York Mets beat the Detroit Tigers 12-5 at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (80-60) have dropped the first two games of the series, and the Mets (75-64) will go for a sweep in Wednesday’s finale.

Tigers starter Sawyer Gipson-Long struggled in his first big-league start since June 26. Paddack, the veteran who moved to the bullpen to make room for Gipson-Long, fared even worse in relief.

Pete Alonso opened the scoring with a 435-foot solo homer to deep center on a 3-0 pitch from Gipson-Long in the first inning.

The Tigers answered with two in the bottom of the first against Mets starter Nolan McLean, who had allowed only two runs in 20 1/3 career innings entering the game. With two out

See Full Page