The Detroit Tigers cannot do anything but look ahead after another series loss in an ongoing slump.
The Tigers (20-27) picked up their 10th loss in their past 12 games with a 4-1 defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, May 17, at Comerica Park. The Tigers have now lost four straight series and are tied for last place, with the Kansas City Royals, in the American League Central.
Sunday’s loss brought continued struggles at the plate for the Tigers, who entered the day tied for 22nd in runs, Against the Jays, Tigers hitters produced one run on six hits and two walks.
Four of those hits, all singles, came off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, but they never threatened during his six innings of work. The Tigers’ only run came in the eighth inning, also the only frame with a Tigers runner advancing past first base.
“Early in the game, we couldn’t really put back-to-back at-bats together,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We had no pressure on him.”
Over their 10-in-12 skid, the Tigers have averaged 2.5 runs per game while giving up just over five runs per game. Detroit’s offense has not been able to outhit its pitching woes, which has been plagued by injuries.
“We have no choice but to get to the next game,” Hinch said.
The Tigers’ scant offensive mojo Sunday came in the eighth inning. Wenceel Pérez chased reliever Yariel Rodriguez with an infield single. Kevin McGonigle followed with a single up the middle off fellow lefty Joe Mantiply, and Dillon Dingler loaded the bases with a walk.
Right-handed pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones drove in Detroit’s only run with a fielder’s choice grounder, but the next batter, Riley Greene, grounded out to the end the threat.
Greene finished 0-for-4, snapping an 11-game hit streak and a 26-game on-base streak. Detroit’s left fielder said the team remains focused on the day-by-day process rather than getting too hard on themselves over this rough patch.
“We don’t really think about that,” Greene said. “We’re just focusing on trying to do something to help the team win every night and it is going to take everyone to win.
“It is what it is.”
Toronto scored what ended up being the game-winning run in the top of the first inning off starter Jack Flaherty. After giving up a solo home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Flaherty surrendered a double to Daulton Varsho, who eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Guerrero, following a third-inning single, scored on Varsho’s triple, and Varsho scored on a sacrifice fly from Jesús Sánchez.
After that, Flaherty settled in for just his second six-inning outing of the season. Flaherty gave up four runs on five hits with five strikeouts, though, for the first time this season, he did not walk a batter.
“Execution was good today,” Flaherty said. “[I did] a better job of being on the attack and continuing to go after them no matter what happens or just continue [saying] here it is and keep making your pitches.”
“You just gotta continue to show up, continue to work,” Flaherty said.
Continuing to show up and put in the work is what the Tigers need to do as they try to return to above .500 and weather the storm of key hitters and pitchers stuck on the injured list. The Tigers are slowly starting to get a few players back, starting with starter Casey Mize on Saturday and reliever Will Vest on Sunday.
The Tigers, who finished off Game 6 of a 13-in-13-days run, now welcome the defending AL Central champion (and current leader) Cleveland Guardians to Comerica Park for a four-game series, beginning Monday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet/FS1). It is the first series this season against Cleveland, the squad Detroit beat in last year’s AL wild-card series.
The Tigers are turning the page to the pivotal division series rather than getting bogged down by the ongoing offensive struggles.
“We always love playing those guys because right now they are at the top of the division,” Hinch said. “So, I don’t know any other way.”
Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ‘No choice’ for Detroit Tigers but to look ahead amid ongoing slump
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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