DETROIT — The Tigers’ piggyback starters did their part. Now they need some offensive support to help carry the load.
The way the Royals have held down Detroit’s offense this series, Hunter Dozier’s sixth-inning solo homer was going to be tough to overcome, as it built a two-run gap, while Danny Duffy and Kansas City’s bullpen flummoxed Tigers hitters for most of Sunday afternoon. Tigers pitching gave them a chance at a rally until a two-run ninth put away a 4-0 loss.
The Tigers have lost nine of their last 10 games, scoring 18 runs in that span after scoring at least six runs in each of their three games in Houston last week.
“Obviously we need a lot of guys to get warm, get in and swing the bat a little bit,” manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. “They’ve done it before, they’re gonna do it again. This is not a team that can’t hit. It’s a team that hasn’t been hitting.”
Amidst the Tigers’ offensive struggles, they’ve used their modified six-man rotation to solidify their starting pitching. While Michael Fulmer continues to look more like his younger form, Tarik Skubal has regained some of his dynamic arsenal in a piggyback role.