Live Tigers blog: Tigers lose 5-3, Rangers win 10th straight
The Tigers lost the first of a three-game series to the Rangers, 5-3 on Friday at Comerica Park.
The win is the 10th in a row for the Rangers (23-20) and their seventh in a row at Comerica.
Down 5-2 to start the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers got a one-out single from Jose Iglesias -- who took second on defensive indifference. Tyler Collins worked a nine-pitch at-bat, eventually walking to bring up J.D. Martinez, who was the tying run.
Martinez reached safely on an error on Elvis Andrus, which allowed Iglesias to score, making it a two-run game.
Daniel Norris struggled for the Tigers (20-20), for a time. He allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Norris did, however, strike out eight.
Anibal Sanchez (3 1/3 innings) and Francisco Rodriguez (1 inning) combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, scattering a hit and a walk.
The two teams continue their series tomorrow at 7:10. Justin Verlander (3-3, 4.47 ERA) will get the ball for the Tigers, while A.J. Griffin (4-0, 3.15 ERA) will go for the Rangers.
K-Rod throws scoreless 9th
The two worst pitchers on the Tigers active roster combined to throw 4 1/3 scoreless innings.
Francisco Rodriguez took the mound for the Tigers to start the ninth inning.
He got Joey Gallo to pop out to second base, before walking Ryan Rua. Rodriguez bounced back, striking out Jared Hoying swinging.
Rodriguez got out of the inning, picking off Rua, who was caught between first and second base on the 1-4 putout.
Going to the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers are down 5-2.
Tigers down 3 after 8
The Tigers are running out of time, down 5-2 after eight innings.
Alex Avila led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. Justin Upton then struck out swinging on a breaking ball out of the zone for the first out. Avila took second on a wild pitch from Keone Kela -- moving to third on a sacrifice fly from Nicholas Castellanos. James McCann struck out to end the inning, and any chance at a threat.
Sanchez rolling in relief
Anibal Sanchez is rolling out of the bullpen for the Tigers tonight.
He threw his second consecutive scoreless inning, working a 1-2-3 top of the eighth.
In 2 1/3 innings, the embattled right-hander has not yet allowed a run.
Jonathan Lucroy popped out to James McCann in foul territory, before Rougned Odor grounded out to third base. Sanchez struck Mike Napoli out swinging to end the half inning.
Going to the bottom of the eighth, the Rangers still have a 5-2 lead.
Tigers go in order in 7th
Keone Kela replaced Tony Barnette on the mound for the Rangers to start the bottom of the seventh inning, getting the Tigers to go down 1-2-3.
Ian Kinsler flew out to first baseman Ryan Rua in foul territory to lead off the half inning. Tyler Collins then struck out swinging before J.D. Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning.
After seven, the Tigers are down 5-2.
7th-Inning Stretch: Rangers 5, Tigers 2
Anibal Sanchez went out for his first full inning of work in the top of the seventh, after getting a strikeout to end the top of the sixth.
What's more, Sanchez threw a scoreless frame.
Delino DeShields led off the inning with a single. After Shin Soo Choo popped out to second base, it appeared as though James McCann caught DeShields stealing. On review, the call was upheld. Elvis Andrus then flew out to end the inning.
After six and a half, the Tigers remain down 5-2.
Tigers get run back in 6th
The Rangers went to their bullpen to start the bottom of the sixth inning.
Right-hander Tony Barnette came on to replace Nick Martinez.
Justin Upton walked to lead off the half inning, before a bloop single from Nicholas Castellanos put two on with nobody out. With James McCann batting, both Upton and Castellanos advanced on a wild pitch from Barnette.
McCann hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Upton.
Andrew Romine then struck out looking for the second out, before Jose Iglesias struck out swinging to end the inning.
After six, the Tigers are losing, 5-2.
Game gets ugly for Tigers in 6th
Things went from bad to worse for the Tigers in the top of the sixth.
But first, some good.
Leading off the sixth inning, Jonathan Lucroy hit a ball near Tyler Collins in right field. Collins slipped while fielding the ball, prompting Lucroy to head for second base. Collins recovered and made the throw to Jose Iglesias covering, recording the out.
It didn't get any better after that.
Rougned Odor followed with a single, advancing to second on a passed ball from James McCann.
After Mike Napoli struck out swinging, Joey Gallo hit a long 2-run home run, padding the lead for the Rangers.
Ryan Rua doubled after the home run, spelling the end of the night for Norris.
Anibal Sanchez entered, replacing the lefty, and promptly struck out Jared Hoying to end the inning.
Going to the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers are up 5-1.
Tigers offense sluggish through 5
The Tigers have had trouble figuring out Rangers starter Nick Martinez through the first five innings.
J.D. Martinez singled with two outs in the inning, representing the only offense for the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth.
The game is now official. Through five complete, the Tigers are down 3-1.
Norris back to cruising in 5th
The third inning and beginning of the fourth is looking more and more like a bump in the road for Daniel Norris.
He set the Rangers down in order in the top of the fifth, getting his seventh strikeout (Delino DeShields, swinging to lead off the inning).
Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers still trail 3-1. Norris is at 88 pitches through five.
Tigers get on board in 4th
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.
J.D. Martinez and Alex Avila flew out to center field before Justin Upton doubled to extend the inning for the Tigers. Nicholas Castellanos was then hit with a pitch, putting two on before James McCann loaded the bases, reaching safely on an error from Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who threw a sure throw to second base into the outfield.
Andrew Romine drove in Upton with a two-out single.
Jose Iglesias grounded out to end the inning.
After four, the Tigers are down 3-1.
Rangers add to lead in 4th
Mike Napoli's leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning off of Daniel Norris added to the lead for the Rangers.
Norris then struck out the side, getting Joey Gallo swinging, Ryan Rua looking and Jared Hoying swinging.
Going to the bottom of the fourth, the Rangers are up 3-0.
Tigers leave runner on in 3rd
The Tigers left another runner on base in the bottom of the third inning.
Andrew Romine and Jose Iglesias grounded out softly to second base, before Ian Kinsler hit a two-out single -- giving the Tigers their first hit of the game. Kinsler was stranded, though, when Tyler Collins popped out to left field.
After three, the Tigers are down 2-0.
Rangers take 2-0 lead in 3rd
Daniel Norris had a rough top of the third inning.
After allowing a leadoff single to Ryan Rua, he walked Delino DeShields two batters later and hit Shin Soo Choo to load the bases.
Norris walked Elvis Andrus to score Rua, before Jonathan Lucroy grounded into an RBI force out, reaching first base safely when Ian Kinsler could not make the throw to first to complete the would-be 5-4-3 double play.
Norris got out of the inning when Rougned Odor flew out.
Going to the bottom of the third, the Rangers have a 2-0 lead.
Tigers strand Castellanos in 2nd
The Tigers got a two-out walk from Nicholas Castellanos, but nothing else in the bottom of the second.
Alex Avila very nearly put the Tigers on the board to lead off the inning, but his deep fly ball was caught by Delino DeShields at the wall in left field in front of the Tigers bullpen.
After two, it's still scoreless.
Norris impressive in 1-2-3 2nd
Tigers starter Daniel Norris worked quickly in the top of the second inning, setting the Rangers down in order.
After Rougned Odor popped out to shortstop Jose Iglesias in foul territory, Norris struck out Mike Napoli and Joey Gallo to end the half inning.
Going to the bottom of the second, the game is still scoreless.
Tigers go 1-2-3 in 1st
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning.
After Ian Kinsler popped out to second base, Rangers starter Nick Martinez struck out Tyler Collins and J.D. Martinez to end the inning.
Collins was ahead 3-1 in the count to Martinez, and appeared to have gotten ball four on a ball out of the zone, but it was called a strike. On the next pitch, Collins struck out swinging.
After one, the game is scoreless.
Norris flashes glove in scoreless 1st
Tigers starter Daniel Norris flashed some leather in the top of the first inning.
After allowing a leadoff infield single to Delino DeShields, Norris fielded a bunt off the bat of Shin Soo Choo, flipping the ball from his glove to first base to get Choo. DeShields advanced to second on the play, later moving to third on a sacrifice fly from Elvis Andrus.
But Norris stranded DeShields, getting Jonathan Lucroy to ground out to second base to end the half inning.
Going to the bottom of the first, the game is scoreless.
Live blog: Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers
There's a 50 percent chance of rain in the forecast, which may or may not impact the start of tonight's game between the Rangers and Tigers at Comerica Park.
The Tigers (20-19) have won their last two games after dropping a wild 13-11, 13-inning marathon against the Orioles on Tuesday night. The Rangers (22-20) are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, and have won their last six games at Comerica.
With the absence of Victor Martinez (paternity list) and Miguel Cabrera (oblique strain), the hot-hitting J.D. Martinez will bat third and be the designated hitter, while Alex Avila will make his first-career start in the cleanup spot, playing first base.
Left-hander Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound for the Tigers, while righty Nick Martinez (0-2, 5.04 ERA) will go for the Rangers.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
LINEUPS
TIGERS
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Tyler Collins, RF
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
4. Alex Avila, 1B
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Daniel Norris, SP
RANGERS
1. Delino DeShields, LF
2. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
3. Elvis Andrus, SS
4. Jonathan Lucroy, C
5. Rougned Odor, 2B
6. Mike Napoli, DH
7. Joey Gallo, 3B
8. Ryan Rua, 1B
9. Jared Hoying, CF
Nick Martínez, SP
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