Detroit Tigers: Greene Struggles, Tigers Leave ’em Loaded in 8-6 Loss

Detroit Tigers baseball returned on Tuesday night as the team faced the Kansas City Royals in a road contest. The Tigers fell behind early, and ultimately could not reclaim the lead.

Detroit Tigers fell to the Kansas City Royals 8-6 in the opening game of a three-game series. Shane Greene got the start in the game for the Tigers and showed the good, the bad, and the very ugly, and his final lined favored the ugly with 4.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R (ER), 4 BB, 2 K.

The Royals got the scoring started in this game in the bottom of the second. Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon led the inning off with two walks. Greene almost escaped unscarred, but Jarrod Dyson singled to bring home a run, moved to second on a throw home, then came home on a single from Alcides Escobar to give the Royals the 3-0 lead.

The Tigers had a chance to trim the lead in the top of the third as they loaded the bases for Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, but Cabrera struck out and Martinez popped out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third, the Royals struck with two outs and took advantage when the Tigers could not. After a double play, Kendrys Morales singled, Alex Gordon walked, and Salvador Perez brought them both home with a double to give the Royals the 5-0 lead. 

The Tigers cut into the Royals’ lead in the top of the fifth. Ian Kinsler singled and Justin Upton walked with one out. This time, Miguel Cabrera took advantage of the situation and drove home Kinsler and Upton with a double. Victor flew out, but J.D. Martinez walked and Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to load the bases. Mike Aviles then flew out to end the inning and leave the bases loaded for a second time in the game.

Detroit could not get the shutdown inning in the bottom half as the Royals struck back. Eric Hosmer doubled and Morales was hit by a pitch to end Greene’s night. Blaine Hardy made his Tigers’ season debut, and it got off to a rocky start. After retiring Alex Gordon, Salvidor Perez deposited a ball over the center field wall to give the Royals the 8-2 lead.

Later, in the top of the seventh, the Tigers got back into the game. Victor Martinez singled and J.D. Martinez walked to set up another Saltalamacchia home run, his third straight game with a dinger to cut the lead to 8-5.

In the top of the eighth, the Detroit Tigers faced off against Joakim Soria and did not greet him nicely. Soria loaded the bases with singles from Jose Iglesias and Kinsler, and he walked Justin Upton. The Royals then brought in Kelvin Herrera to face off against Cabrera, and Cabrera struck out on three consecutive sliders. Herrera then hit Victor Martinez to cut the lead to 8-6. J.D. Martinez then flew out to left field to leave the bases loaded for the third time.

In the ninth, Kansas City closer Wade Davis worked mowed down the Tigers to seal the Royals’ victory.

Next: Detroit Tigers Pitcher of the Week: Justin Wilson

These two teams will face off once again on Wednesday night as Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Kennedy will face off at 7:00.