The offense was shut down again by the Rangers rotation.
The rubber game of the Tigers and Rangers series at Comerica Park took place on a gorgeous Mother’s Day afternoon (don’t forget to call the Mothers in your lives, folks). Reese Olson took on Texas ace Nathan Eovaldi and the Jung Bros got another chance to play against each other. Olson had a rough day and the Tigers were kept quiet at the plate as they fell to the Rangers to lose the series two games to one.
The story of the day was the continued resurgence of the Texas offense and the ice cold response from the Tigers. Olson only went four innings, giving up massive 2-run HR to Marcus Semien in the 2nd before loading the bases and escaping a jam. By that point his pitch count was out of control and a short outing almost assured. In the third, he gave up a run-scoring single and two stolen bases with Dillon Dingler having little chance in either case. Four innings pitched, 3 runs allowed and ton of baserunners; that’s not the usual Olson appearance.
On the flip side, the Tigers were doing next to nothing against Eovaldi. A barely missed HR turned double from Riley Greene, a walk, and a single were all the Detroiters could muster through seven innings. They struck out 7 times and served plenty of average fly balls for routine outs all game long. Not a performance to write home to mom about.
With Olson pulled early, Beau Brieske took the bump. After a grounder wasn’t corralled well, the Jung the elder belted a 2-run homer, upping their lead to 5-0. Brieske has not been sharp this year and coming back from the ankle injury hasn’t cured what ails him.
Brenan Hanifee got himself a clean 7th and looked good doing it. Brant Hurter gave up a solo HR to Jonah Heim in the 8th, then gave up a few baserunners. He got out of it when a bunt attempt was too close to the mound, allowing him to snag the ball and fire a bullet to first, getting the final out of the inning. Chase Lee closed out the Tigers bullpen performance with a great strikeout to end a clean frame.
Down to their final outs against the Texas bullpen, the team went 1-2-3 in the 8th. With one out in the 9th, Gleyber Torres knocked a single to center – his momma didn’t raise no quitter. Andy Ibanez jumped on a ball for a single to left, putting two on. Greene battled and went from 0-2 to 4-2, walking to load the bases and showing a level of patience that was uncharacteristically missing from the Tigers’ offense today. The Rangers went to the bullpen, bringing in Robert Garcia. Torkelson jumped on a first-pitch fastball, flying out to center and scoring a run; the team would not be shut out today. A pinch-hitting Justyn-Henry Malloy battled but flied out to right, ending the rally.
The Detroit Tigers lose the series 2-1, their first home series loss of the entire season (just a reminder this was game FORTY-ONE). They stay at home to take on the Boston Red Sox in a night game tomorrow. RHP Jackson Jobe is set to face another scuffling right-hander in Tanner Houck.