Detroit Tigers’ Drew Smyly shines in loss, offense fails to show up, Tigers lose 2-1

Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers sent Drew Smyly to the mound for the second game in a four game series and while Smyly didn’t get the win/picked up a loss, it was through no fault of his own. Smyly didn’t allow a base runner until one out in the fifth inning, where he gave up a deep double to Howie Kendrick. He escaped the inning unscathed, but the same can’t be said for the sixth inning. Smyly gave up a pair of doubles to Chris Ianetta and Kole Calhoun, and then an intentional walk with two outs to Albert Pujols. The Angels took the lead on an RBI single from Efren Navarro, which scored Calhoun. Smyly was relieved by Al Alburquerque, who retired the final batter of the inning.

Smyly’s final line: 5.2IP, 4H, 2R, 1BB, 11K

Alburquerque returned to the mound for the seventh inning, and gave up a single to Erick Aybar, who was caught stealing, and then walked John McDonald. Alburquerque was able to end the inning out without allowing a run to score.

Blaine Hardy pitched the eighth inning with the Detroit Tigers still down by one. He got two quick outs from Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout but then floundered a bit, giving up back to back singles from Pujols and Navarro. He was able to finish the inning by getting Kendrick out.

Josh Hamilton started for the Angels but was removed with hamstring soreness.

The Tigers offense had plenty of opportunities to score runs to support the stellar effort by Smyly, but aside from a Miguel Cabrera solo shot in the fourth inning, no runs crossed the plate for Detroit. The Tigers left five on base, including a bases loaded situation that ended with a Torii Hunter strike out and no additional runs. All six Tigers’ hits came from the batters in the three through seven spots.

The Tigers play the Angels again tomorrow at 9:05pm.