:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46604608/GettyImages-478276904.0.jpg)
Buck Farmer was brought up from Triple-A Toledo to fill in for Justin Verlander, who was scratched from his start due to mid-back stiffness. Farmer and the bullpen couldn't keep the Cleveland Indians off the basepaths, and with nearly no help from the offense, the Detroit Tigers lost 8-2 in the series finale as they were unable to sweep the Indians.
Farmer was cold, then he was hot, then he was cold. After a not-so-great first inning he struck out five consecutive batters, before allowing five straight hits, giving up a three-spot in the third. Then Farmer followed that up with a seven-pitch fourth. Then a strikeout, which was followed by a career-first home run given up to Indians' shortstop Francisco Lindor in the fifth, then a double by leftfielder Michael Brantley.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
After 5 1/3 innings Gorzelanny's day ended, finishing with 103 pitches and seven strikeouts, having allowed eight hits, five runs, and two walks, though the last run was walked in by Tom Gorzelanny -- who inherited the runner on first. Speaking of Gorzelanny, He imploded yet again, allowing a hit and two walks in just one-third of an inning. In came Kyle Ryan, who got the last out on a weak popout in just two pitches before collapsing in the next inning. Tigers pitching walked six Tribe batters and allowed three runs, which, obviously, never ends well.
Meanwhile, the Tigers were busy doing nearly nothing hitting-wise. For a while, the biggest hit of the game was a leadoff double by Andrew Romine in the third inning. After Romine stole third base, Bryan Holaday struck out and then Jose Iglesias walked, but that's as close as Detroit's offense would get for six innings as Rajai Davis grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Tigers had hope at one point in the seventh. Yoenis Cespedes drilled a line-drive double with one out in the seventh, which J.D. Martinez followed up with a smoked two-run home run to left field on an 0-2 slider. Nick Castellanos then singled to continue the inning, but Romine couldn't get it done, grounding into the second inning-ending double play of the game. That's all Detroit would get for the rest of the game.
ROARS:
J.D. Martinez: Crushed a baseball in the seventh, getting a two-run home run to cut into the deficit.
Andrew Romine: Filling in for Miguel Cabrera at first base on Wednesday, Romine started the game with a double and stole third base. Good luck getting him out of the lineup.
— EricEricEric (@ComericaEric) June 24, 2015
Joba Chamberlain: Was the only Tigers pitcher without being touched for a hit, run, or a walk. He struck out the only batter he faced to end the eighth with the bases loaded, even if he did work it to a 3-2 count. So, this might be more of a Bronx cheer, but hey, we'll take it today.
HISSES:
Buck Farmer: He was up and down so much it felt like a roller coaster ride, one that didn't end so well. Giving up five runs on eight hits, walking two doesn't make for a productive outing, even if he did strike out seven batters.
Tigers bullpen (Joba Chamberlain excluded): Gorzelanny allowed two walks, a hit, and a run. One out. His days should be numbered at this point. Al Alburquerque had one job. Don't let the inherited runners score. But it happened again on Wednesday. He's now allowed eight of 17 inherited baserunners to score (that's not good). Then he walked a batter before getting an inning-ending double play. Kyle Ryan gave up two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Tigers offense: The Tigers had just two hits through six innings, and despite the J.D. home run Detroit couldn't keep the inning alive. Victor Martinez, hot on Tuesday, was 0-for-4. No batter had multiple hits.
STREAKS AND STATS:
- J.D. Martinez's two-run home run in the seventh was his 17th of the season, which paces the team.
- The Tigers grounded into two double plays, giving them 74 for the season, which continues to lead all of baseball.
WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:
Source: FanGraphs