The Tigers' recent road trip ended on a sour note as they return to Comerica Park riding a four-game skid. They were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks, capping it off with a narrow 1-0 loss. The math doesn’t lie: no runs, no wins.
Manager AJ Hinch summed it up, "What started out as a promising trip turned rough here." The Tigers' bats have gone cold, managing to score in just two of their last 35 innings and being shut out twice in their last six games.
Colt Keith, who boasts a .962 OPS through six games, remains optimistic. "A lot of guys in this clubhouse have been through multiple seasons and they know how the flow of a season goes," he said.
"I don't think anyone in here is panicking. We're pretty confident we're going to turn it around."
On Wednesday, Zac Gallen kept the Tigers at bay for six innings, mixing up his pitches effectively and limiting them to four hits. Keith came tantalizingly close to tying the game in the third with a ball that looked destined for the stands but ended up as a double off the wall.
The Tigers’ best scoring opportunity came in the sixth. Rookie Kevin McGonigle, with two hits on the day, smacked a triple. But Gleyber Torres followed with a hard-hit ball right at the first baseman, resulting in a double play that extinguished the threat.
Keith noted, "When we hit it good, we hit it right at people. We can definitely have better at-bats, but I'm not panicking at all.
I feel like we're going to be fine." The Tigers' hitters averaged a solid 91 mph exit velocity against Gallen but couldn't break through against the Diamondbacks' bullpen.
Hinch emphasized the need for discipline at the plate. "We've got to get in the strike zone.
It's not just the balls we put in play and the at-bats as a whole. It's continuing to fight to stay in the strike zone."
Tarik Skubal, who had been a reliable starter, was on the mound. Despite notching only three strikeouts and six swings-and-misses, he pitched well enough to win, allowing just one run over seven innings. Yet, it was a rare loss on his watch.
Skubal’s lone blemish came against the red-hot Corbin Carroll, who launched a 97-mph fastball into the seats for the game’s only run. "Great pitch," Skubal said.
"He's a really good hitter and he put a really good swing on it. Sometimes you have to tip your cap."
Despite the loss, Skubal induced nine ground ball outs, including three double plays, showcasing his ability to adapt. "Not every out needs to be a strikeout," he noted.
"We turned three double-plays. That's what you are trying to do as a pitcher, too, suppress contact."
In the end, Skubal pitched too well to take the loss, but baseball can be unforgiving. The Tigers will need to find their offensive spark as they head back home, hoping to turn things around.