Detroit Tigers Fall Short In Ninth, Lose to Texas, 5-3

Randy Wolf pitched strong in his first start for the Detroit Tigers but was sunk by a four run third that gave the Rangers all they needed to win, 5-3.

Wolf (0-1) used his 70 to 90-miles per hour pitch repertoire to keep Texas hitters off balance all night but was done in by five singles and a throwing error by left fielder Tyler Collins in the third inning.

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With one out, Delino DeShields singled sharply to left field then Shin-Soo-Choo followed with his own single to left, sending DeShields to second. Prince Fielder grounded a ball through the right side of the infield to score DeShields and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Adrian Beltre lined a single to left to make the score 2-0, sending Fielder to second. Next up, Mike Napoli lined a single of his own to left. With Fielder rumbling around third and headed for the plate, Collins let loose a low throw up the third base line that hit Fielder in the back of his legs. The Ball slipped past James McCann and allowed Beltre to advance to third, where he scored the fourth run of the inning on an Elvis Andrus ground out.

In the meantime, Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo (10-9) was able to close the door on every threat the Tigers mounted against him.

In the first inning Miguel Cabrera doubled with two out but was left stranded when Victor Martinez flew out to left.

In the bottom of the second the Tigers lost out on a golden opportunity to take the early lead. J.D. Martinez opened the inning with a single and was sent to second on a single by Castellanos. After McCann flied out, Jose Iglesias grounded into a force at second, sending Martinez to third.

On Gallardo’s next pitch, Anthony Gose bunted and was thrown out by Rangers catcher Bobby Wilson to end the inning and set the stage for the Rangers’ third.

In the fifth inning Kinsler doubled with one out and in the sixth Castellanos tripled with two outs but the Tigers went down quietly both times without scoring.

The Rangers added a run in the ninth when Rougned Odor slammed a Guido Knudson fastball into the right field seats before the Tigers finally broke through in their last at-bat.

With two outs, Iglesias singled off of Texas reliever Sam Dyson. He advanced to second, then took third on Rajai Davis‘ single to second. Ian Kinsler ended the Tigers run drought with a three-run homer to left but Collins struck out to end the game.

On Deck

The Tigers will attempt a split of the four game series when they send rookie Matt Boyd (1-3) against leftie Cole Hamels (6-8).

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