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Michael Fulmer was brilliant once again, but his offense couldn’t give him much support and the Tigers fell to the Royals, 3-1, and fall nine games below the .500 mark and currently stands eight games behind Cleveland, pending the result of their game. The Royals closed to within one game of the Indians and extended their win streak to seven straight games.
The game started ominously as Whit Merifield took Fulmer’s first pitch deep to left center field for a leadoff home run. Fulmer would bounce back to strike out the next 3 batters on 12 pitches.
However the Tigers could not figure out Danny Duffy, who held them to one run on six hits over six and a third innings, working in and out of trouble all night as the Tigers would go two for ten with runners in scoring position. The biggest bunder came in the eight as poor reading of the outfield positioning led to Mahtook getting doubled off first for a costly inning ending double play. More on that later.
Bonifacio and Royals had Martinez played right. Didn't have to cover much ground for catch. pic.twitter.com/1NzGmNvQYF
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) July 26, 2017
Alex Gordon showed he still can field at an advanced level, this time taking away a double while blowing a bubble.
Like the catch. Love the bubble.https://t.co/4IcrrmZa9F pic.twitter.com/kZcjHOiEcT
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) July 26, 2017
ROARS:
Michael Fulmer continued to do what he does best, pitch deep into games and give his team a chance. Tonight he worked eight innings of three run ball with no walks and six strikeouts, all swinging.
HISSES:
Everyone not getting a roar. Seriously. You want an example? How bout the bottom of the eighth. The Tigers get the first two on with a ultra rare Miggy infield single, then somehow avoid a double play grounder that is only one out, only to see Victor fly out on a shot down the line which Mahtook didn't read and got doubled off first before J-up scored from third. Inning ending double play, no run scores, another opportunity wasted.
STREAKS AND INFO:
- Miguel Cabrera hit a bloop single in the second inning to record his 2,600th career hit, and 1758th as a Tiger, currently sitting 10th all time in franchise history.
- Mahtook extended his hitting streak to ten straight games with a triple in the fourth inning.
- The next double from Victor Martinez will be number 400 in his career.