Very little seems to be going right for the Detroit Tigers on the field lately.
The Tigers (20-31) fell to the Cleveland Guardians, 3-1, on Thursday, May 21, at Comerica Park. The loss sealed a four-game sweep for the American League Central-leading Guardians, who now have a 9½-game lead over the Tigers, sitting in last in the Central.
Detroit has now lost a season-high six games in a row and is 4-15 in May.
The Guardians scored two runs in the third after a fly ball from third baseman Daniel Schneemann fell for a double and extended the frame. Cleveland added a third run in the eighth on a Patrick Bailey solo home run off reliever Burch Smith.
Catcher Dillon Dingler’s eighth-inning solo home run (his team-leading ninth of the year) brought the Tigers to within two runs of the Guardians, as Detroit’s slugger finished 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. But those were the only two extra-base hits the Tigers managed, in another poor offensive performance.
Much like in Wednesday’s extra-inning loss to the Guardians, Detroit wasted a gem from its starting pitcher. This time it came from righty Casey Mize, who allowed four hits and two runs over 6⅔ innings and is looking like his All-Star form from 2025.
But in another dispiriting performance, Mize and Dingler were the only positives that came from Detroit’s side on Thursday.
Mize puts up a quality start
Mize, in his second start since returning from the injured list (right adductor strain) on May 16, pitched 6 ⅔ quality innings allowing four hits and two earned runs. Both of those runs came in the third inning, and he arguably didn’t deserve to be tagged with those runs.
Mize threw a 1-2-3 first inning on 10 pitches, striking out rookie Chase DeLauter to cap the frame. He had another 1-2-3, 10-pitch inning in the second before giving up his first hit in the third, a two-out double to shortstop Brayan Rocchio that bounced off the wall just inside the right-field line.
It then led to scoring for Cleveland.
Schneemann hit a high fly ball to right field that looked catchable, but with Tigers right fielder Wenceel Pérez shaded towards center, the ball dropped and ended up an RBI double for Schneemann. Designated hitter José Ramírez followed with an RBI single, giving the Guardians the first two runs of the game.
Per Statcast, the Schneemann fly ball had an expected batting average of .020 based on exit velocity and launch angle. But with Pérez shifted away from right field, what looked like an easy fly ball turned into a game-turning RBI.
Mize settled down after the third, allowing just one baserunner through the next three innings (another two-out double from Rocchio in the fifth inning) and pitching into the seventh inning for the third time this season.
But despite Mize’s contributions, the Tigers offense didn’t pull its weight.
Joey Cantillo shuts down Tigers lineup
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Colt Keith worked a leadoff walk to bring the tying run up to bat. Pinch-hitter Zach McKinstry then tried to bunt him over, but fouled off his attempt and later struck out for the first out of the inning. Center fielder Matt Vierling followed with another strikeout and Kevin McGonigle grounded weakly to shortstop to end the threat.
Detroit’s offense once again struggled against the Guardians, marking its seventh game in a row scoring three runs or fewer, but it had quality plate appearances to start the day.
McGonigle laced a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the first inning, followed by a loud double from Dingler that bounced off Guardians right fielder Angel Martínez and was a couple feet from landing beyond the fence. Designated hitter Jahmai Jones then drew a two-out walk to load the bases after a Riley Greene strikeout, but first baseman Spencer Torkelson flew out to right field to end the inning scoreless.
The offense then stalled over the next five innings, managing just two hits and two baserunners without putting a runner in scoring position. Much of that had to do with Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo, who recorded six strikeouts through 5⅔ shutout innings despite the rough start to his outing.
Next up
The Tigers begin a three-game road series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, May 22, in a battle of last-place opponents. Detroit righty Jack Flaherty is scheduled to pitch against Baltimore righty Chris Bassitt.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers stick with familiar: low-scoring loss, Guardians sweep
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
