The Parker Meadows injury just adds to the frustation

During this Tigers five-game losing streak, everything that could go wrong, has. Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field was the latest chapter in what is becoming an increasingly frustrating story, dropping Detroit to 4-9 and tied for the worst record in the American League.

The strange thing that keeps happening is how fans were referencing the record from last year and tying that into the poor start of the season. While I get the logic — since the roster, for the most part minus the additions on the pitching side, is still the same — fans are frustrated and expected the Tigers to dominate everyone out of the gate. But this series was flat out horrible to watch. Nothing worked at all.

The offense was scoring a bit, but it was too little, too late. The same problems kept creeping in. The Tigers were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and the opportunities were there. Javier Báez doubled in the fourth, only to be stranded when Parker Meadows grounded out and Jake Rogers lined out to end the inning. In the sixth, Spencer Torkelson walked and advanced to second, but again Detroit came up empty. The Tigers left men on base repeatedly, and the inability to cash in on those chances ultimately decided the game.

Spencer Torkelson continues to be a concern. He's missing pitches down the middle, finishing the day with two flyouts — including one to the warning track — and nothing to show for it at the plate. For a player counted on to anchor this lineup, the struggles are becoming harder to overlook.

Mick Abel, to his credit, was actually the bright spot for Minnesota, spinning six scoreless innings and keeping Detroit's bats quiet throughout. Jack Flaherty held his own in response, but the Tigers' inability to score against him made his effort meaningless. The one run Detroit did manage came in the seventh on a Gleyber Torres sacrifice fly that scored Jake Rogers, who had been hit by a pitch and then moved to third on a Colt Keith single. It was a moment of life, but nothing more.

Then came the gut punch in the bottom of the eighth. With Will Vest on the mound, the Twins loaded the bases and Brooks Lee delivered a go-ahead two-run single that put Minnesota up 3-1, effectively ending any hope of a Detroit rally.

And if the loss itself wasn't enough, the night got worse. Parker Meadows exited the game with an apparent injury after a collision with Riley Greene in the outfield — a frightening moment that now has the Tigers holding their breath as they wait for updates out of Minnesota. Losing Meadows for any significant stretch of time would be a significant blow to a team that is already searching for answers. Wenceel Perez will more than likely get the call-up for the weekend series against the Marlins. 

The Tigers' ninth inning went quietly — a flyout from Báez, another from Kevin McGonigle, and a strikeout from pinch-hitter Dillon Dingler to end it. Eric Orze closed it out for the save, and the Twins completed the sweep.

4-9. Tied for the worst record in the American League. And now potentially without one of their outfielders. For a team that was supposed to take the next step this year, the start couldn't look much worse.

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