” We werent going to use another pitcher, so it was going to be somebody,” Gardenhire said. “And Demeritte was in the game as the DH for (Miguel) Cabrera, and, clearly, he was going to be the guy to pitch. … We were not going to use any more pitchers out there, so it was a quite easy thing. As for the Tigers offense? Got to go out there and go get em next time.”.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Travis Demeritte hung his head as he walked off the field at Comerica Park.
Finally, an excruciating ninth inning was over.
He didnt misplay a pop fly in the outfield, make a tossing error or start out swinging. Rather, he was pitching in a 19-0 loss Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers– the worst margin of defeat in a nothing in franchise history.
These Tigers (19-22) got in the day one video game behind the New York Yankees for the ALs eighth and last spot in the playoffs. Although, in the finale of a two-game home series, they looked like the team that lost 114 video games a year back, if not even worse.
They have never had a shutout loss this bad. The previous worst was a 16-0 defeat to the St. Louis Browns on Sept. 9, 1922.
At least the Tigers had 5 hits because video game.
On Wednesday, they had simply 2.
” A lot of bad things take place when some video game goes like that one, and it went awry quite quick,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Its just one video game, and well go on from there.”
However this one game is frustrating for a team in a playoff race. One day, the Tigers look like they could be a dark horse in the postseason as a team built on grit and a never-quit mindset. Other days, such as Wednesday, its uncertain whether they deserve to be described as contenders.
[Tigers should turn the page to remain in playoff contention] He smiled at his colleagues running to their positions in the infield when Demeritte trotted out to the mound to start the ninth. There were no smiles on the way back after giving up 4 runs. His 80 mph fastballs talented the Brewers some additional batting practice; Jedd Gyorko and Tyrone Taylor both smashed homers to left field.
” We werent going to use another pitcher, so it was going to be somebody,” Gardenhire stated. “And Demeritte remained in the game as the DH for (Miguel) Cabrera, and, clearly, he was going to be the guy to pitch. … We were not going to use anymore pitchers out there, so it was a quite simple thing. I informed Demeritte, Just do not get killed.”.
The guidance didnt help him in his pitching debut.
How could it?
It wasnt just Demeritte who got waxed. Left-handed starter Matthew Boyd provided up seven runs and could not get an out in the fourth inning. His replacement, right-hander John Schreiber, offered up two runs. Rony Garcia allowed three more, as did Kyle Funkhouser..
Thirteen of the Brewers 21 hits chose extra bases– eight doubles and 5 home runs.
When it comes to the Tigers offense? Simply 2 hits by shortstop Willi Castro and no strolls with 11 strikeouts, all coming from Brewers starter Corbin Burnes. Even Castro, nevertheless, wasnt perfect. He made a tossing error in the ninth inning on what couldve been the last out before two more runs scored.
[Daz Camerons life-changing COVID-19 battle concludes with Tigers launching] Its worth discussing Boyd didnt give up back-to-back leadoff homers in the very first inning, something he has done 3 times this season. It went downhill from there; the Opening Day starter provided up 4 doubles and a walk to open the 2nd.
” Just overthinking it, actually,” Boyd stated. “That leads into tempo, that leads to not having the ability to enter into a rhythm. I suggest, I could see what they were trying to do, and I simply couldnt command the baseball today. Kinda happens. Just got to get better, find out from it. A lot to be learned. Got to head out there and go get em next time.”.
Gyorko squashed his first of two home runs on a 3-2 count to start the third inning. Boyd opened the 4th enabling a single, a crowning achievement (to Jacob Nottingham) and a walk before Gardenhire benched him. He completed with 7 earned runs on 8 hits and four walks.
Boyds ERA, which has considerably enhanced in his last three getaways, leapt to 7.63.
He looked lost again.
” In a season of many starts, he just had a bad day,” Gardenhire said. “It simply grew out of control from there. I believe we all had a bad day. You guys needed to have a bad day, you had to see that, too. You know what? That wasnt fun. We attempted to survive.”.
[Jordan Zimmermann returns from hurt list, will start Thursday] The Tigers lone chance to rating came on Castros 421-foot triple off the wall in the inmost part of the ballpark in right-center field. Burnes came back to strike out Jorge Bonifacio and Daz Cameron, who was making his MLB debut..
They couldnt strike. They could not pitch.
And there was no chance the Tigers, with 11 returns in 2020, were going to climb up out of the hole they dug themselves in this time.
That leaves one question, undeniable for the time being..
Who are these Tigers?
” Its simply one of those bad days that resulted in more bad,” Gardenhire stated. “Not much excellent occurred for us, other than nobody got hurt.”.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. The Free Press has begun a new digital subscription design. Heres how you can gain access to our most unique Detroit Tigers material..
