Padres 1, Tigers 0: Detroit offense wastes a gem from Michael Fulmer

The Detroit Tigers did not record a hit until the fifth inning and did not advance a runner past second base, resulting in their seventh consecutive loss. This one came at the hands of Luis Perdomo and the San Diego Padres by a 1-0 score at Petco Park.

Perdomo was anything but efficient early on. He walked two Tigers hitters in the first inning, and issued five free passes in six innings. However, he induced a pair of rally-killing double plays in the first two frames and did not allow a fly ball to any of the 23 batters he faced. Perdomo did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth, when Andrew Romine led off the inning with a single. The Tigers’ best chance came in the seventh after a leadoff double from pinch hitter John Hicks, but their top three hitters could not score pinch runner Mikie Mahtook, leaving him stranded at second base.

The Tigers had more baserunners than the Padres, but the game’s first extra base hit scored its only run. After third baseman Cory Spangenberg walked and advanced to second base in the second inning, Austin Hedges drove a double into the right-center field gap to score Spangenberg. The Pads could have scored more when they put runners into scoring position in the fourth and seventh, but Michael Fulmer was able to buckle down and get out of trouble.

Speaking of Fulmer, this was a vintage outing from the 24-year-old righthander. Fulmer struck out eight Padres hitters in seven strong innings with just one run allowed. It was a welcome sight after a pair of subpar starts earlier this month.

ROARS:

Michael Fulmer: He looked a little wild in the first couple innings, but settled in for a very efficient outing. He ultimately walked four batters, but one was intentional.

Andrew Romine: His single in the fifth inning prevented the Tigers from getting no-hit by the Padres.

John Hicks: Hicks came through with a big pinch-hit double in the seventh. He is now hitting .317/.338/.556 in 65 plate appearances this season.

HISSES:

The rest of the offense: They went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, grounded into two double plays, and left six runners on base.

Jordan Baker: C’mon, man.

Not only did Baker ring up Ian Kinsler for strike three on the above check swing in the top of the eighth, but he then ejected manager Brad Ausmus (who was standing in the dugout) for something less than 10 seconds later. It didn’t affect the outcome of the game, but was yet another example of #umpshow from one of the worst umpires in baseball.

STATS AND INFO:

• The Tigers have been shut out six times this season. Three of those instances have come in starts by Michael Fulmer.