With two outs in the sixth inning, Michael Fulmer was pitching well. He’d allowed just 1 run through five innings, and looked to be well on his way to win number 2 on the year, as the Tigers were up 5-1. Then the wheels fell off.
Fulmer had given up a walk to Delino DeShields before recording a pair of fly outs. Nomar Mazara’s single put runners at first and third with two out. Joey Gallo ripped a double that scored DeShields to make it 5-2, and moved Mazara to third. Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit another double that scored both Mazara and Gallo to make it 5-4. That would be enough for manager Ron Gardenhire. The first batter Alex Wilson faced, Ronald Guzman, promptly singled but was thrown out trying to advance to second. Meanwhile, Kiner-Falefa scored to tie the game.
The Tigers would reclaim the lead in the next half inning when Jose Iglesias reached on a ball originally called foul but overturned and ruled an error that scored JaCoby Jones.
In the bottom half of the inning, Buck Farmer should have been out of the inning, but an error by Jose Iglesias with two outs allowed Delino DeShields to reach base. Daniel Stumpf would replace Farmer; and allow a single to Shin-Soo Choo to score DeShields and tie the game; and a Jurickson Profar triple that scored Choo to give the Rangers a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.
The Tigers are now 14-20 and have lost 2 straight. They sit in third place, 1.5 games behind Minnesota for second, and 3 back of the Indians for the division lead.
The Tigers and Rangers continue their series tonight in Texas at 8:05pm. Mike Fiers (2-2, 5.00 ERA) will face Mike Minor (3-1, 4.36 ERA). You can hear the game LIVE on Jackson ESPN 101.9fm!