Tiger Bullpen Fails Again in 7-5 loss

Saturday and Sunday were a tale of two bullpens, as the Tigers fell to the Red Sox 7-5. 9^th Inning magic was in the air, but it just wasn’t the Tigers’ day.

The Tigers drew first blood with a single from Justin Upton in the 1^st, scoring Castellanos. Marco Hernandez would answer for the Red Sox in the 2^nd. Ian Kinsler would tack on another run for the Tigers in the 2^nd, with a single, scoring Romine. The Red Sox would knot it up once more in the 3^rd, with a double from Mitch Mooreland and Ian Kinsler tacked on RBI #2 in the 4^th, scoring Romine and giving the Tigers the 3-2 lead. That’s how the score would stay through the 7^th.

With the help of officials, scoring continued in the 7^th. A Tigers pitching change put Alex Wilson in for Norris, with one man on, one out. An Iglesias, Kinsler, Cabrera double play would have ended the inning. However, a Red Sox challenge kept the inning going, ultimately finding that Ian Kinsler’s foot was off the bag at second. A Benitendi single to left would score Hernandez for the tie. However, Castellanos answered right back, breaking the tie in the bottom of the 7^th, with a homerun to left. Matt Barnes would relieve Porcello, to wrap up the inning.

Bruce Rondon took the mound for the Tigers in the 8^th, where Tigers pitching started to unravel. Two walks, three errors and a hit later and Kyle Ryan would take over for Rondon. A bases loaded walk would tie the game, followed by a double scoring two more. The Tigers turned a double play, but the Sox would score one more. The Tigers would leave the inning, with the Red Sox sending eight men to the plate and the Tigers trailing 7-4.

Annibal Sanchez would come on to record three easy outs for the Tigers in the 9^th. Red Sox closer, Craig Kimbrel would take over in the 9^th, and walk the first two batters. A single from Victor Martinez would score Kinsler. However, the Tigers 9^th inning rally would fall short there, with three strikeouts from Kimbrel.

The final line for Daniel Norris was 7 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs in 6  innings with 2 strikeouts. Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 6 but is still looking for a big hit. With the loss, the Tigers drop to 3-2 on the season.

The Tigers wrap up their 4 game series with Boston, Monday afternoon. Justin Verlander takes the mound, versus Chris Sale. The Twins will be in town, Tuesday afternoon, for four straight day games at Comerica Park.