Detroit Tigers decimated again by homers; swept by Toronto Blue Jays

The Detroit Tigers needed Alfredo Simon to eat some innings in the series finale with the hard-charging Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. He did not do that. The team, however, had to expect him to allow a lot of runs after allowing a season-high in runs in his previous start. He did that.

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The sad drum beat of the Tigers playing out the string continued as the Blue Jays clubbed another four home runs, giving them 11 in the three-game series, in yet another decimation, 9-2 on Sunday.

Simon allowed another homer to Edwin Encarnacion (after three on Saturday), Josh Donaldson, Kevin Pillar and Russell Martin. He went just five innings, allowing six runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Simon becomes only the second pitcher in the majors this year to allow 6+ runs in three outings this season.

Drew VerHagen momentarily stopped the bleeding, going two innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. Bruce Rondon took over in the eighth inning and promptly allowed three Toronto runs–shockingly without allowing a homer.

Meanwhile the offense was its usually inefficient self on Sunday. They did not score until the game was well out of reach at 6-0. Miguel Cabrera and James McCann pushed home runs on ground outs in the sixth and seventh innings to give the Tigers a brief glimmer of a pulse at 6-2.

The last-place Tigers have a day off on Monday before heading into another tough situation to face the Kansas City Royals, leading the division by about 100 games (or so it seems), for the first of three games on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium. Justin Verlander faces Johnny Cueto with first pitch set for 8:10.

Next: Tigers rotation in 2016

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