Detroit Tigers Thumped by Tampa 8-0

The Detroit Tigers have proven this season that winning a series this year is next to impossible. They took the field Monday with two wins in a four game set against Tampa and the deck stacked.

Pitcher Jake Odorizzi for Tampa entered Wednesday night on a colossal road game losing streak not having won on the road this season since May 31. He is last in the American League with the run support in only 3.1 runs while he takes the mound. The scenario seemed ripe for the Tigers to pray on Odorizzi and the Rays.

However, Odorizzi’sluck changed tonight against the Tigers. Maybe it was because the Tigers have become the Toledo Mud Hens of Major League Baseball having players like Dixon Machado, Tyler Collins, Alex Avila, Kyle Lobstein in the lineup. Or maybe it’s because this team just plain stinks right now. But for Odorizzi, he’ll put his head on the pillow tonight sleeping better knowing his losing streak is now over.

Kyle Lobstein seemed to have recovered from his last outing when he was rocked. The last outing was his first start since he returned from the disabled list. Lobstein cruised through the first three innings. The wheels fell off for Lobstein in the fourth inning. Logan Forsythe doubled home Mikie Mahtook. Asdrubal Cabrera then doubled in Evan Longoria and Logan. The Rays took a 3-0 lead.

The Forsythe-Lobstein thrilling duel started the sixth inning with Logan winning with a solo home run to right center. Then the Rays continued their solo home run parade. Blasts going out like it was the Fourth of July. Tim Beckham was next off Lobstein. Buck Farmer came in to relieve Lobstein and J.P. Arencibia welcomed him with a solo shot. Farmer left the game with an injury after the home run, later diagnosed as right forearm stiffness. Mike Mahtook was next with a drive to deep left center giving the Rays a 7-0 lead in the seventh.

The pounding continued off Will (Jeff) Ferrell when Tim Beckham singled in Evan Longoria. 8-0. Odorizzi wins!

The Tigers had seven hits and went 0-6 with RISP. Steven Moya made his 2015 debut in the bottom of the eigth inning after suffering an outfield fielding miscue in the top of the inning. He struck out in an ugly at bat against Rays’ reliever Enny Remero.

There’s another month of this baseball to be played.   Another month.

The Tigers head to Cleveland tomorrow with Alfredo Simon taking on Danny Salazar.