Tigers Thwart Cubs Comeback With 3-Run 8th In 10-8 Win
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs manager Joe Maddon felt his right-hander Pedro Strop deserved a better fate.
The reliever picked up the loss by allowing three runs in the eighth inning of the Chicago Cubs' 10-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
"I think Stropy going to feel badly about it, but he didn't throw the ball badly," Maddon said. "They got him, they got us, but that's baseball, man. They executed that inning.
"The Tigers can hit. They have a great lineup. They beat us tonight."
Ian Kinsler had five hits, including a home run and Nick Castellanos had a two-run single and J.D. Martinez added a sacrifice fly in the tie-breaking eighth for Detroit.
Martinez and Anthony Gose also homered for the Tigers in a game that was delayed for 2 hours and 17 minutes after a strong thunderstorm hit with one out in the bottom of the third.
Anthony Rizzo singled in Dexter Fowler to tie it 6-all in the seventh as the Cubs rallied from four runs down. But they lost their second straight following a nine-game winning streak. Chicago's eight-game home winning streak also ended.
Rookie Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run homer, his ninth in 35 games, and Chris Coghlan hit a two-run shot for the Cubs.
It was an awkward game with the rain delay," Maddon said, "but I will definitely take our effort."
Al Alburquerque (3-0), the fourth of six Detroit relievers, got one out and the win.
Strop (1-6), the fifth of six Chicago relievers, gave up the three runs in the eighth and took the loss.
Two of the three hits Strop allowed came on bunts and the other was a bloop hit to right field by Castellanos that broke it open.
"My worst at bat of the game was the base hit with two RBIs," he said, "but in the box score it was the best."
Detroit was ahead 5-2 when the storm hit.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel was hit hard in three innings, allowing five runs and nine hits, including Detroit's three homers. Jason Motte, who took over in the fourth following the rain delay, allowed the first earned run given up by the Cubs' bullpen since Aug. 9.
Tom Gorzelanny relieved Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez following the delay.
Sanchez, who allowed Coghlan's homer among three hits in 2 1-3 innings, hasn't won since July 23. In his last five starts he has three losses and two no-decisions while permitting 20 runs in 25 2-3 innings.
After Hammel struck out Gose leading off, the next three Tigers ripped the ball. Kinsler and Martinez homered, and Miguel Cabrera doubled as Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first.
Cabrera's liner was caught by a fan who reached out with a glove over the basket above the wall in left field. The hit, originally called a homer, was changed to a double after a video review.
His stuff is really good," Maddon said. "We talked about velocity, really good breaking balls, primarily to the lefties and he's healthy. So for me, it's almost like he's trying too hard."
Hammel admitted that he struggled with command.
"It's disappointing to go out there and have good stuff like I had tonight and get hit hard," he said. "It's one of those nights when it seemed like they knew what was coming."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: C Bryan Holaday, who was expected to be recalled on Sept. 1 when rosters expand, may be out for the season after injuring his left thumb on Monday playing for Triple-A Toledo. Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish told the Detroit News Holaday either "dislocated or fractured" the thumb in a collision at home plate.
Cubs: RHP Rafael Soriano (right shoulder inflammation) threw a simulated game on Tuesday, but manager Joe Maddon did not have a report on his progress. Soriano is expected to go on a rehab assignment when he's ready to return to live action.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound as Detroit goes for the sweep of the two-game series.
Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (8-8, 3.21 ERA) looks to end his team's two-game skid. Lester has gone 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 40 strikeouts in his last five starts.
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