Tigers offense just could not get going, again
The Detroit Tigers came into this game on a season-high 5 game losing streak and the fans were getting restless. Would they break the streak behind Keider Montero? Spoilers: No, no they would not.
Righty Kumar Rocker took the mound for the Rangers. Once a huge prospect, injury troubles set him back in his career and he’s finally starting to put it together at the major league level. Lefties have given him fits, though, so the Tigers trotted out a lefty-heavy lineup. Colt Keith led off and struck out on a cutter down and in. Gleyber Torres, a rock in the lineup and clubhouse, worked a walk. Wenceel Pérez battled but flied out, leaving it up to Riley Greene to do something productive. He grounded out.
Keider Montero got the start for the Tigers, his first since July 7th (he did a bad spot of relief on July 12th). His previous start was a 6 inning, 1 run success against the Rays. The Rangers couldn’t do anything in the first, grounding out twice and ending with a Marcus Semien swinging strikeout on a nasty pitch.
Spencer Torkleson led off the 2nd with a strikeout. After a groundout, Rocker got Parker Meadows to strike out on that same nasty cutter that got Tork and Keith. If he had that going the entire game, it was going to be a rough one for Detroit.
Texas got things going in the bottom of the 2nd. Adolis García smacked a single to right field. While Montero is usually good at holding runners on, García was able to swipe second. It was moot because Evan Carter walked. A grounder towards second was snagged by Trey Sweeney to allow for a force at second, putting runners on the corners. Rowdy Tellez, recently of the Mariners and picked up by Texas for his home run power…hit a Montero fastball into the bullpens for a 3-run homer. Ope. Keider rebounded to get the next two outs, but the damage was done.
The Tigers needed a solid answer after that home run. All three batters softly grounded out on just a few pitches. Not ideal.
Montero got the first two outs before walking Semien, as his command began to falter a bit. After a Jake Rogers mound visit, García flew out, thankfully ending the inning.
Torres worked his second walk to lead off the 4th. Perez had a very patient at-bat, seeing 8 pitches and walking as well. With the heart of the order up, the next three batters got out without even advancing the runners. Much frustration.
Montero got a solid bounce-back, striking out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
Meadows grounded out, losing a footrace to the bag with Rocker by fractions of a second. Rogers hit a liner to shortstop, then Sweeney grounded out. Another 1-2-3 inning for the Tigers bats and their scoreless streak was at 16 innings, dating back to before the break.
Kyle Higashioka led off with a ball down the left field line that took a lucky Tigers’ ricochet off the wall, holding him to a single on a ball that 99% of the time is a double. It didn’t matter too much because Montero walked the following batter on just four pitches. The bullpen began warming up, maybe a tad too late. A liner was hit to third that bounced off of Keith’s glove, but he was able to run it down and fire to Montero for a force at third. Seager hit a single through the infield that scored a run, making it 4-0. Finally, he was pulled in favor of Brenan Hanifee.
Hanifee got Semien out on one pitch, inducing a shallow flyout. He then got García to weakly ground out, ending the remaining threat. Montero’s final line: 4.1 IP, 4ER on 4 hits and 3 walks, with 5Ks.
The Tigers really needed to get things going in the 6th. They get their first hit of the game with two outs, a Pérez single. Greene then immediately struck out to end the inning.
Brant Hurter came in for Hanifee in the bottom of the frame. He got two outs before walking Tellez. A great pitch froze Higashioka, striking him out to end the inning.
Tork popped up to open the 7th, which turned out to be the final batter for Rocker. For a guy that has struggled this year, this was easily his best outing of the season. Lefty Hoby Milner relieved him and got a McKinstry pop-up. Matt Vierling pinch-hit for Meadows and stroked a single to left. Rogers battled back from 1-2 to get a walk. Jahmai Jones pinch-hit for Sweeney with two on and a chance to get some runs on the board. He struck out swinging on three pitches, so nothing doing.
Hurter remained in the game and was able pitch himself a 1-2-3 inning. A solid outing for a guy that has struggled of late.
In the top of the 8th, Jacob Webb was on the mound for the Rangers. Zero Tigers reached base.
Carlos Hernández, the struggling flamethrower reliever, came in for Detroit. He had a solid inning, getting all three outs without drama. The bullpen did their job this game and should rightly get some props considering their struggles.
The Tigers were down to their final three outs and looking at two consecutive shutouts. Riley Greene decided that enough was enough and greeted Webb with a home run to right, spoiling the shutout. Would have been really nice if he could have done that earlier in the game with runners on, but it is what it is. Tork grounded out. McKinstry gave a ball a ride into left center but somehow Wyatt Langford made a stunning running grab to deny him extra bases. Vierling battled, but popped up the final pitch to end the game.
Final: Rangers 4, Tigers 1.
Tigers and Rangers battle again tomorrow in Arlington. This is the first time the Tigers have lost 6 in a row, as well as the first back-to-back series losses.