By Jason Beck
DETROIT — The Tigers’ defense was earning praise and analytical acclaim when it began this homestand a week ago. It only feels longer.
To be fair, Detroit still entered Thursday’s 9-7 loss to the Rangers tied for second in MLB in Outs Above Average according to Statcast, and Defensive Runs Saved according to Sports Info Solutions. The Tigers’ 13 DRS trailed only the upstart Royals, who will open the next homestand next Friday afternoon. The Tigers still ranked in positive territory at every position but first and third base. Their seven Outs Above Average trailed only the Rangers, a fitting standing the way this week has unfolded.
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As the Tigers packed up for their trip to Minnesota, they couldn’t help but lament a missed opportunity to salvage a split of their four-game series against Texas and their eight-game homestand overall. On a day when Detroit topped seven runs for just the third time this season, the Rangers’ last three runs were unearned: A bobbled ball by rookie second baseman Colt Keith, a misplayed gapper by center fielder Matt Vierling that set up an Evan Carter sacrifice fly and, most glaring, a botched rundown leading to Gio Urshela’s missed tag between second and third to set up an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Leody Taveras ducks under the tag
Said shortstop Javier Báez, whose throw to second started the rundown: “I think we took a little too much time passing the ball. He just went straight to the ground.”
In many ways, the defense is a microcosm of Detroit’s season to date — better than it has been, still some improvement to go. The Tigers’ last road trip ended with a game arguably won on defense, stealing a win in Pittsburgh with help from three outstanding outfield catches. Thursday’s loss, Detroit’s second consecutive three-error performance, showed how such plays can turn a game the other way when they’re not made.
Spencer Torkelson’s RBI double
“It’s not the unknown; you’ve got to handle the ball,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Everybody does it, across the league. When you mishandle the ball and give the other side extra outs or extra 90 [feet] or whatever, it puts you in a really, really tough spot. … The better teams you play, the more dangerous and painful the unclean play is. That’s not rocket science. That’s baseball.”
Said Báez: “It’s going to happen. We’re going to lose games, but we just have to play cleaner all the time, better than past years. I think we have for now.”
Mark Canha’s RBI single
Three other things we learned about the Tigers on their 3-5 homestand:
1) Javy still packs a punch at the plate
Báez entered the homestand batting 5-for-33 (.152) but matched that hit total over his past five games. Maybe more impressive, he struck out just once during the whole homestand. His home run Sunday sparked a four-run eighth inning against the Twins, and his two doubles Thursday made the Rangers pay for challenging him with fastballs. Most teams will attack him with sliders, but keeping up that discipline puts him in better situations.