Detroit Tigers lose 3-2 in 10th after Joe Nathan blows solid Max Scherzer start

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers were poised to secure the series win over the Toronto Blue Jays, heading into the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead after a dominant, eight inning performance by Max Scherzer. Joe Nathan took the mound, and soon, the game was tied and the Tigers were headed into extras, where they lost in the tenth by a score of 3-2.

Scherzer had none of the command issues he showed in New York, going eight innings, giving up only one run on four hits, no walks and eleven strike outs.

Joe Nathan entered in the ninth, and immediately began where he left off last night, missing spots and having trouble throwing strikes. He gave up a lead off single to Jose Reyes, who stole second on a play that Brad Ausmus challenged and lost. Melky Cabrera flied out, advancing Reyes to third. Jose Bautista was intentionally walked to put runners on the corners with one out, and Dioner Navarro singled to score Reyes and tie the game. Nathan then threw a wild pitch, advancing both runners, and then finished his outing by walking Colby Rasmus to leave the bases loaded for Joakim Soria.

Soria got a one pitch pop out off the bat of Juan Fransisco, and then Munenori Kawasaki grounded out to end the inning and send the game into extras. Soria headed back to the mound for the tenth inning, but did not throw a pitch as he seemed to have an issues with his back/side area. Joba Chamberlain was called on to pitch the tenth, but gave up a lead off single to Danny Valencia, who scored the game winning run on a Nolan Reimold double in the next at bat.

The Tigers’ offense was once again lethargic, scoring two runs in the sixth inning, after a two out single by Ian Kinsler and a walk to Miguel Cabrera who both scored on a Victor Martinez double. The Tigers’ only had four hits total, the two just mentioned by Kinsler and Victor, and two hits by Rajai Davis.

The Tigers play Toronto again tomorrow to finish the series at 1:07pm.