The many different ways in which the Detroit Tigers continue to lose games has become terribly vexing.  Tonight, it looked to be working in the road team's favor, as the Tigers got to Zack Greinke early and made him throw enough pitches (100) that he had to leave after six innings.  Meanwhile, Nate Robertson gave up 10 hits in seven innings, but only allowed two runs, making this his best start of the season.

And any night in which Billy Butler, normally a sweet-swinging Tiger Killer, goes 0-for-3 has to be considered a success for the Detroit pitching staff. 

So how did they lose this game?

For one thing, the Tigers didn't capitalize when Greinke gave the ball to his bullpen.  Ramon Ramirez, Leo Nunez, and Joakim Soria didn't allow a hit, let alone a run, in the remaining three innings of the game.  The only scoring threat Detroit posed was when Ramirez threw consecutive walks to Miguel Cabrera and Gary Sheffield, putting a runner on second base.  But neither Matt Joyce nor Edgar Renteria could bring the runner home.

And since I just mentioned him, let's talk about Renteria because he made the bonehead play that ultimately gave the game to the Royals.  In the bottom of the eighth, Mark Teahen hit a ball up the middle that looked like a base hit, but Renteria made a great play in snagging it behind second base to prevent a run from scoring.  Unfortunately, the Tigers' shortstop then did the baseball equivalent of going for a 360-degree dunk in a tied ballgame when a simple lay-up would've given his team the lead. 

Renteria tried to get a force out at second by attempting a no-look, backhand flip to Placido Polanco, who not only wasn't expecting a throw, but was also moving in the opposite direction.  The ball dribbled back toward the pitching mound, allowing Esteban German to score the go-ahead run. 

The Tigers literally threw a game - one they had every chance of winning - away.  Just when you think this team has lost in every conceivable manner, they invent frustratingly, painfully new.  (By the way, Curtis Granderson ended the night with another 0-for-5.  He's gone 1-for-21 over his last five games.)  And once again, they're seven games under .500, which was supposed to be rock bottom.

Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64) vs. Zack Greinke (4-1, 1.80)

Two teams will enter, one team will leave.  Last place in the AL Central, that is.  The Kansas City Royals are currently a 1/2-game ahead of the Tigers for fourth place, having lost six of their last 10 games.  Of course, Detroit has lost seven of its last 10, so we're not talking about two teams gathering momentum here. 

This would be an excellent opportunity for the Tigers to exact some revenge for getting swept by the Royals in the opening series of the season.  To wreak vengeance, however, they'll have to go through KC's best starting pitcher.  Zack Greinke leads the Royals in ERA, strikeouts, and shares the team lead in wins with Brian Bannister.  Against the Tigers in his first start of the year, he was brilliant, allowing just one run and six hits over seven innings.

As I said on Sunday, when Nate Robertson was originally scheduled to start, the Tigers will probably have to score at least five runs tonight, because we know ol' Nate is likely to give up four.  He's allowed four runs or more in each of his seven starts this season.  But maybe getting to pitch in front of family and friends in Kauffman Stadium will provide a little more inspiration against a Royals lineup that hits Robertson quite well.  Here's hoping.

Royals Review has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.

Short Hops:

• Our buddy Sam Mellinger interviewed the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi at Ball Star today.  I wonder if Sam thought about me at all during the chat?  Do you think he likes me better?  I thought about Sam the whole time I exchanged e-mails with Joe Posnanski.  At least that's what I told him.
• Sam also wrote a post about Five Guys, which I enjoyed because I finally got to try one of their burgers a few weeks ago in Charleston.  They need to open a franchise in Michigan ASAP.
• As expected, the Tigers couldn't find a trade partner for Jacque Jones, and filed for his unconditional release today.  Jones will become a free agent on Thursday, and has made it known that he'd like to sign with the Florida Marlins.