Jordan Zimmerman pitched arguably his best game of the season last night, throwing 7 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk, and striking out five. Daniel Stumpf threw a scoreless 8th inning; then the bullpen imploded, resulting in a late-game 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Shane Greene faced 4 hitters, allowing three of them to score by way of two hits and a walk. Those two hits were back to back home runs; a two-run homer to Tampa DH C.J. Cron and Brad Miller’s second home run of the season. Manager Ron Gardenhire called upon Buck Farmer to record the final two outs of the 9th, and hoped for some late offensive magic. It was a hope that almost came true.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers would face pitcher Chaz Roe. Roe would get pinch hitter Victor Reyes to strike out to open the inning, followed by hitting JaCoby Jones on a 2-1 count. Jones would steal second before Jeimer Candelario singled to move him to third. With 2 on and one out, Roe would hit his second batter of the inning, Nicholas Castellanos, to load the bases. That would be enough for Rays manager Kevin Cash, who would bring in Jose Alverado to try and record the final two outs in a precarious position. The first batter Alverado faced, Victor Martinez ripped a single to center to score Jones and Candelario. Leonys Martin would pinch run for Martinez, as he stood as the game-winning run at first base. After a John Hicks walk moved Castellanos to third and Martin to second, Dixon Machado would ground out to end the game and allow Alverado to dance out of a jam to record his first save.
The Tigers will look to even the series tonight from Comerica Park at 7:10pm when Detroit sends Matthew Boyd (0-2, 2.74ERA) to the mound against Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer (2-1, 6.61ERA). The Tigers offense has had some success against Archer, with Miguel Cabrera (.389/2HR/6RBI), Jose Iglesias (.400), and Leonys Martin (.429) all hitting well over .350 against him.
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