And all good things must come to an end, as they say. The Tigers suffered their first spring loss, at the hands of the Phillies. Actually, it was kind of off the hands of Adam Wilk and David Pauley, two pitchers trying to make the roster when the team returns to Detroit next month. The duo combined to allow seven runs in two innings.
Before then, things looked bright. Outfielder Eric Patterson -- a long shot, if he has any shot at all, to make the roster -- hit a pair of home runs off Philly starter Roy Halladay. Detroit led 4-0 after four innings, helped by an additional home run off Don Kelly's bat. In his second time on the mound, Detroit starter Max Scherzer kept the Phillies off the board with three scoreless, one-hit innings.
Alas, Win No. 7 was not to be. Wilk gave up three runs on four hits -- including a home run -- in the sixth inning. At least that was his third frame on the mound. Righty reliever David Pauley didn't even make it to three outs. He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks. So that's seven base runners allowed out of nine batters faced. Rather not good. His last time out, he also allowed three hits in an inning of work. You don't decide a roster based on an appearance or two on the mound, but Pauley's not had the kind of success you'd like to see, needless to say. Still, the door is open for a surprise candidate to make the bullpen.
Detroit faces a split-squad Nationals team on Saturday.