Tigers blog replay: Tigers rally falls short in 9th

Geoff Robinson, The Detroit News
Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann

FINAL: INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4

One of these days the Tigers will figure out how to beat the Indians. Tonight, however, was not the night they would get it done, falling to 0-7 on the season against the first place Tribe.

Jordan Zimmerman was rocked, and despite four strong innings out of the bullpen from Mike Pelfrey, the Tigers just didn't have enough firepower to catch up.

In the ninth, Cody Allen got the call for the Indians. Andrew Romine reached base with one out after striking out when Chris Gimenez couldn't find the ball and hit him with the throw as he ran to first base. Ian Kinsler made things interesting with a single to left field and Cameron Maybin followed suit with an RBI single to left field to pull the Tigers closer at 7-4. Miguel Cabrera made a bid with a shot to center field, but former Tiger Rajai Davis proceeded to chase down the ball, bobble it, then catch it again. With everyone running, Davis threw the ball back to the infield and Maybin was doubled off the end the game. 

Zimmerman finished with a line he would like to forget as soon as possible (3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 K). He gave up three triples and four extra base hits in a fourth inning in which Cleveland put up five runs to take a 7-0 lead.

Mike Pelfrey pitched 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out two.

Danny Salazar wasn't his usual great self for the Tribe tonight, but the Tigers couldn't take advantage of his early struggles. Salazar walked five while allowing four hits, but the Tigers were only able to get to him for three runs in 5.2 innings of work.

Top 9th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Mark Lowe got the call for the ninth and put Cleveland down in order to give the Tigers a puncher's chance going into the ninth.

Rajai Davis flew out to center field, Carlos Santana popped out to shortstop and Jason Kipnis flew out to center field to end the inning.

Bottom 8th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Justin Upton notched a two-out single to left field off of new Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw, but Steven Moya couldn't come through, striking out on a questionable call and putting the Tigers three outs away from falling to 0-7 on the season against the Tribe.

Victor Martinez grounded out to shortstop and Nick Castellanos flew out to center field to start the inning.

Top 8th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Coming out of the bullpen looks good on Mike Pelfrey. Unfortunately for him and the Tigers, he came into a game where they were trailing 7-0. But Pelfrey has done his job, holding the Indians without a run over four innings after putting them down in order in the eighth.

Juan Uribe grounded out to shortstop, Lonnie Chisenhall struck out looking and Chris Gimenez grounded out to second.

Bottom 7th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Cameron Maybin notched a one-out single to right field, but Miguel Cabrera's rough night at the plate continued, as he grounded into his second double play of the night.

Ian Kinsler grounded out to second base to leadoff the inning.

Top 7th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Mike Pelfrey is keeping the Tigers within striking distance after setting Cleveland down in order in the seventh.

Francisco Lindor flew out to center field, Mike Napoli struck out swinging and Jose Ramirez fouled out on a sliding grab made by Justin Upton.

Bottom 6th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Steven Moya drew a two-out walk, the fifth of the night dished out by Cleveland starter Danny Salazar, who was immediately pulled from the game. Dan Otero came on to face James McCann, who dumped a single into right field to put two men on for Andrew Romine. Romine couldn't get it done, however, grounding out back to the mound to end the frame.

Nick Castellanos lined out to shortstop and Justin Upton struck out swinging to start the inning.

Top 6th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

Former Tiger Rajai Davis notched a two-out single and Carlos Santana followed suit, but Mike Pelfrey buckled down and got Jason Kipnis to fly out to center field to end the inning.

It was a nice job by Pelfrey to battle back against Kipnis, who took three balls to start the at-bat.

Lonnie Chisenhall popped out and Chris Gimenez grounded out to first base to start the inning.

Bottom 5th: Indians 7, Tigers 3

The Tigers were finally able to get to Danny Salazar in the fifth inning.

Steven Moya led off the inning with just the second hit of the night for the Tigers, a single down the right field line. James McCann singled back up the middle and Andrew Romine drew a walk to load the bases for Ian Kinsler, who delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Cameron Maybin grounded into a fielder's choice, which would have been a double play, but the Indians threw the ball away, scoring two runs to make it 7-3.

That's where the fun ended for the home team.

Miguel Cabrera flew out to right field and Victor Martinez grounded out into the shift to end the inning.

Top 5th: Indians 7, Tigers 0

Mike Napoli notched a leadoff single, but unlike his predecessor in tonight's game, Mike Pelfrey didn't let the first hit snowball on him.

Jose Ramirez flew out to center field and Juan Uribe grounded into an inning-ending double play to end a quick inning for Pelfrey.

Bottom 4th: Indians 7, Tigers 0

The Tigers answer to the Indians big inning was to be set down in order

Victor Martinez flew out to left field, Nick Castellanos flew out to right field and Justin Upton grounded out to shortstop in a quick frame for Cleveland starter Danny Salazar.

Top 4th: Indians 7, Tigers 0

The struggles continued for Jordan Zimmerman and the Tigers defense in the fourth inning.

With runners on the corners, Steven Moya misplayed a liner to right field off the bat of Lonnie Chisenhall that scored both runs and allowed Chisenhall to reach third base.

Jose Ramirez drilled a one-out triple to the deepest part of Comerica Park in right center field and Zimmerman plunked Juan Uribe in the shoulder to set up the Chisenhall RBIs.

Chisenhall scored after Chris Gimenez singled through the right side of the infield to make it 5-0. Gimenez moved up to second on a fielder's choice and scored on a Carlos Santana double to right field. Santana scored on Zimmerman's final pitch of the night, a two-out RBI triple from Jason Kipnis that pushed the Tribe lead to 7-0.

Zimmerman was lifted from the game and Mike Pelfrey made his debut out of the bullpen. The Indians had three triples and four extra base hits off of Zimmerman.

Pelfrey got Francisco Lindor to line out to, mercifully, end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Indians 2, Tigers 0

Cameron Maybin notched a two-out single to extend the inning for Miguel Cabrera, but for the second time tonight, the Tigers' biggest threat couldn't get it done against Danny Salazar. 

Cabrera hit the ball hard, but he hit it right at Juan Uribe at third base.

Andrew Romine struck out and Ian Kinsler flew out to center field to start the inning.

Top 3rd: Indians 2, Tigers 0

Chris Gimenez notched a one-out single through the right side of the infield and Rajai Davis dropped a base hit of his own into right field to give Cleveland its first real opportunity of the night.

After Carlos Santana grounded into a fielder's choice that moved the runners up to second and third, Jason Kipnis drilled a Jordan Zimmerman offering to right field for a two-out, two RBI triple to give the Indians the early lead.

With Kipnis on third, Zimmerman struck out Francisco Lindor to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Justin Upton drew a one-out walk, but the Tigers couldn't take advantage, as Steven Moya lined out to right field and James McCann struck out looking at a 97 mile per hour fastball to end the inning.

Nick Castellanos flew out to center field to leadoff the inning.

Danny Salazar isn't his usual sharp self today. He's issued three walks in the first two frames and has thrown 34 pitches. If he settles in, the Tigers are going to regret not taking advantage of these early opportunities.

Top 2nd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Mike Napoli got greedy trying to stretch a leadoff single to left field into a double, but Justin Upton made a perfect throw to Ian Kinsler at second base and was able to throw out the Cleveland first baseman by a mile.

That was all the help Jordan Zimmerman would need, getting out of the inning by getting Jose Ramirez to fly out to center field and Juan Uribe to ground out back to the mound.

Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Danny Salazar got off to a bit of a rough start by walking Ian Kinsler and Cameron Maybin to set the plate for Miguel Cabrera, but the big man couldn't come through, grounding into a 5-3 double play to kill the momentum.

With a man on second base, Victor Marintez flew out to center field to end the inning.

Kinsler worked a free pass to lead off the inning and stole his eighth base of the season during Maybin's at-bat.

Top 1st: Tigers 0, Indians 0

With the red-hot Danny Salazar going tonight for Cleveland, Jordan Zimmerman is going to have to be at his best if the Tigers are going to take the first of a three-game set with the first place Tribe. 

So far, so good.

Zimmerman struck out Carlos Santana to get things started, got Jason Kisnis to ground out to second and Francisco Lindor to do the same, as the Tigers' starter got out of the first frame having thrown just 11 pitches.

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Cameron Maybin, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Steven Moya, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

Jordan Zimmermann, SP 

INDIANS LINEUP

1. Carlos Santana, DH

2. Jason Kipnis, 2B

3. Francisco Lindor, SS

4. Mike Napoli, 1B

5. Jose Ramirez, LF

6. Juan Uribe, 3B

7. Lonnie Chisenhall, RF

8. Chris Gimenez, C

9. Rajai Davis, CF

Danny Salazar, SP

TIGERS VS. INDIANS

What: First of a three-game series

When: Friday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Comerica Park, Detroit

Pitching matchup:  RH Jordan Zimmermann (9-3, 3.24) vs. RH Danny Salazar (8-3, 2.23)

Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit

National TV: None

Internet streaming: MLB.TV (Blacked out in Detroit market)

Local radio: 97.1 FM

Satellite radio: Sirius, SIRI 212; XM, 181; SiriusXM, 181  (Internet 849)