The Detroit Tigers committed three errors, one in each of the three run-scoring innings, in a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers in the third of four games at Comerica Park.
“We didn’t play clean, which is obvious,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “That’s not always recognizable on the scoreboard with errors, but today, it was. They took advantage of virtually every error. … They scored each time we made a mistake, and in a one-run game, everything matters. In that regard, it was not a great clean game.”
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In the ninth, Evan Carter reached safely on Torkelson’s fielding error with one out and a runner on first base. He tried to scoop the bouncer down the first-base line, but the ball deflected off his glove and rolled into foul territory.
“I was attacking the ball,” Torkelson said. “Just didn’t make the play.”
After that, pinch-hitter Josh Smith hit a splitter off right-handed reliever Shelby Miller that traveled far enough to right-center field to score in the game-winning run from second base without a play at the plate.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal, who commands a 2.28 ERA through four starts, allowed four runs (two earned runs) on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts across 6⅓ innings, throwing 86 pitches. All four runs scored during two innings in which the Tigers allowed the first batter to reach safely on an error.
The game-winning run also scored after Torkelson’s error in the ninth inning.
the defense didn’t play clean for what felt like the first time all season. It was an uncharacteristic brand of baseball for the Tigers, having entered Wednesday’s game ranked 29th in MLB with just five errors in more than 1,400 innings. The next three errors just about gifted five runs to the Rangers.
“That’s the game,” Torkelson said. “You gotta take care of the ball. Good teams, great teams, they capitalize on mistakes, and that’s exactly what they did.”
The Tigers (10-8) can split the four-game series with a win over the Rangers in Thursday’s series finale.
In the bottom of the ninth, Torkelson, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter struck out against right-handed reliever Kirby Yates. Greene struck out looking on a down-and-away fastball; Torkelson struck out swinging on a splitter below the strike zone; Carpenter struck out looking on a splitter at the bottom of the strike zone.
Yates painted the edges on the Greene and Carpenter strikeouts. The three strikeouts stranded Mark Canha, who drew a one-out walk, to end the game.
“I feel like my approach, my plan is paying off,” said Torkelson, who hit a double and worked a walk in the one-run loss. “I’m just sticking with it.”
Tarik Skubal haunted by errors
Facing Skubal, the Rangers scored one run in the first inning and three runs in the sixth inning.
The two teams were tied, 1-1, entering the sixth, when second baseman Colt Keith fumbled a routine ground ball off the bat of Marcus Semien. The error in the sixth, just like the error in the first inning, led to damage on the scoreboard.
“I didn’t do as good a job of limiting damage in the sixth inning,” Skubal said.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
Corey Seager, a left-handed hitter who has put just 16.7% of balls in play to the opposite field this season, took advantage of the Tigers shading their infielders toward the right side of the field. He tapped a sinker down the third-base line and into left field.
With one out, Adolis García skied a first-pitch changeup to right-center field. The ball bounced off the yellow line at the top of the wall and deflected back into the outfield, leaving García with an RBI double instead of a three-run home run.
