It feels like the gut-punch losses are starting to pile on top of one another. You know how, when a hitter is struggling, we often say that they might just need to see one ball go over the fence to get their confidence back? This is how I feel about the Tigers right now. They need to find a way to secure a W so they know they can do it again, because right now it feels like a team just waiting for bad things to happen. Obviously, the injuries have a lot to do with that, especially from a psychological standpoint, but even when this team was healthy, they were blowing late leads. This is now the fourth heartbreaking loss that this team has had this season, with three of those being walk-offs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
What’s too bad is that so much of this game was very optimistic. You got another brilliant performance from Keider Montero. Your rotation continues to be carried by a starting pitcher who wasn’t even on your Opening Day roster. I’m not going to act like the offense was gangbusters tonight, but they were able to take a lead against Chris Bubic. I feel like Detroit has had its struggles against left-handed pitching, so the fact that they were able to get three runs across the board was a nice sign. Holton came in in the seventh inning and pitched brilliantly. You handed it over to your best reliever in Kyle Finnegan, and he completely unravels. When it rains, it pours.
I don’t really have much more to say about this game. I’m a better talker than I am a writer, and losses like this are part of the game I’d rather not spend a lot of time discussing. Detroit needs to find a way to figure it out. On the mound for them tomorrow will be Ty Madden, making his first start of the year. He was brilliant as the bulk guy during the Tigers' bullpen day against the Red Sox. Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off. Detroit will face the always formidable Michael Wacha.
UPDATE: Burch Smith will start. Ty Madden will be the bulk guy once again.