KEY STAT
MLB.com associate reporter Chris Vannini on Twitter (via Big Al)
Inside the #Tigers five-game losing streak: Bullpen has given up more runs (13), than the offense has scored (8).
KEY PLAY
Garrett Jones' ground-rule double off Max Scherzer in the sixth makes it a tie game and sets up two more runs later in the inning.
KEY THOUGHTS
Numbers guy commenter (13194013)
Vomitously struggling to hurl something other than rancid chunks of fat pitches and expelling copious amounts of runs through their out holes. That’s how I am describing the bullpen’s recent performances.
That says it all.
Max Scherzer was mowing through the Pirates with a 2-1 lead when the sixth inning happened. Then the seventh followed. And suddenly it was 6-2. How bad was it? Ryan Perry walked a relief pitcher making his first career at bat to lead off the seventh.
Yes, the bullpen really sucks. After Perry allowed two more singles, Daniel Schlereth accepted that challenge by giving up a pair of runs on a single. So that was nice.
And then, not wanting to be left out, the defense fell apart. Of course, there's no TV so I can't tell you how ugly it looked. But suffice it to say, a strikeout led to a run scoring. So nuff said? No? Here's the recap from the box score's play by play:
Lyle Overbay strikes out swinging, catcher Alex Avila to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera to second baseman Ramon Santiago to shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jose Tabata scores. Matt Diaz out at 2nd.
Radio analyst Jim Price was not pleased and could only speak in monosyllabic platitudes to describe the suck.
Oh and the offense got into the act in the ninth inning. After loading the bases to get the game-tying run to the plate with no outs ... they threatened but did not score. Ryan Raburn struck out looking and Austin Jackson hit into a double play.
When you suck, you suck.
On the bright side, at least it wasn't televised?