Detroit Tigers drop third straight to Indians, lose 5-2

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Max Scherzer got the start in game two of the Detroit Tigers double header with the Cleveland Indians and had a rocky outing. It was reported that he spoke to trainer Kevin Rand after warmups and was having some issues with his shoulder, and while Max by no means got blown out, he certainly wasn’t as crisp and steady as he usually is. His pitch count was elevated early, he uncharacteristically walked four and he gave up two solo home runs to the Indians’ nine slot hitter, Chris Dickerson, the second of which broke a 1-1, sixth inning tie and chased him from the game in favor for Ian Krol.

Scherzer’s final line: 5.2IP, 6H, 2R/ER, 4BB, 4K

Krol entered and struck out Jason Kipnis to end the inning. He returned to pitch a one-two-three severnth inning.

Joba Chamberlain got the ball for the eighth and, like Krol, retired the Indians in order.

Joe Nathan once again made things interesting with a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, giving up a lead off double that would have been a home run pretty much anywhere else to Roberto Perez and then walked Jason Kipnis after sitting down Dickerson on strikes. The Tigers then intentionally walked Michael Brantley to load the bases and Carlos Santana followed that up with a three run double. He then struck out Chisenhall to end the inning.

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The Tigers’ offense was stymied for the third consecutive game. They loaded the bases in the second inning and walked in a run on the back of a Torii Hunter single and three consecutive walks to Alex Avila, Eugenio Suarez and Austin Jackson, but were unable to take advantage of the bases loaded situation any further.

The Tigers were able to score another run in the seventh inning, after a lead off walk to Alex Avila, who was put out on Eugenio Suarez‘s fielder’s choice, and he scored from first on Jackson’s RBI triple to tie the game at two.

Torii Hunter led off the ninth inning with a double but was stranded at second as Suarez