Cleveland 10, Tigers 1: Another home game, another loss

Coming off a road trip that saw the Detroit Tigers play three consecutive playoff-bound teams, hopes were high that they would give the Cleveland Indians a challenge as they battled for their playoff lives. Sadly, as the Tribe has done in 24 of their 34 visits into Comerica Park since 2016, the Tigers’ Lake Erie rivals comfortably dominated the home team and handed Detroit a 10-1 loss. The latest loss at home continues a skid at Comerica Park that has now reached a putrid mark of 8-36 since May 13 of this year.

Right from the start, Cleveland put the pressure on Spencer Turnbull. With two outs in the top of the first inning, the Tribe offense came through with a single, double, and home run to jump out to a three-run lead. The Tigers briefly threatened in the bottom of the second when Dawel Lugo doubled and came home on a Ronny Rodriguez single. Brandon Dixon and Jake Rogers then drew back-to-back two-out walks off Adam Plutko, but the threat would end thanks to a diving grab by Oscar Mercado off the bat of Victor Reyes.

Cleveland immediately got the run back in the top of the third. After loading the bases with one out, Mike Freeman brought home a run on a sacrifice fly. Turnbull was able to avoid further damage thanks to Jake Rogers throwing out Yasiel Puig trying to steal third.

Turnbull then managed to grind out another two innings to keep the game close (for the time being).

Turnbull’s final line: 5 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

Sadly for Turnbull, his effort would be in vain as his offense failed to score any more runs for the rest of the game. Nick Ramirez came on in relief of Turnbull and, after escaping a self-made jam in the sixth, ran into big trouble in his second inning of work. He gave up five unearned runs with two outs after an error extended the inning. Franmil Reyes then followed with a three-run homer, and Roberto Perez added a two-run shot to break the game open.

David McKay followed Ramirez, and allowed a run of his own before getting the third out to end the inning. But the rout was well on by that point; the Tigers were trailing 10-1, and substitute players took the field in the late innings. That’s the way the game would end, an all too familiar site to the Detroit faithful this year in their own ballpark.

Adding injury to insult...

Miguel Cabrera left the game in the sixth inning after visibly reacting in pain in the area of his left bicep. The Tigers announced the injury as left bicep tightness and called his removal a precautionary measure. Still, given his recent history, fans may be holding their breath until he returns to the lineup.