Michael Fulmer not on top of his game in return from DL; Tigers lose, 6-2

ARLINGTON, Texas – A year ago, in this very stadium, Michael Fulmer’s star officially rose.

It was on a hot afternoon when he introduced himself to the baseball world in earnest, shutting out the Rangers at Globe Life Park on nine strikeouts, lengthening his lead for an eventual American League Rookie of the Year award-winning year.

It was a different Fulmer than we saw on Monday night as he returned to the mound for the first time in two weeks following a stint on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow neuritis. This Fulmer struggled out of the gate without much command. He didn’t miss bats and struck nearly nobody out, chased from the game early as a precaution for his promising young arm.

The right-hander looked rusty. He wasn’t overpowering. Not very good. He allowed five runs in five innings and the Tigers lost to the Rangers, 6-2. 

• BOX SCORE

After Justin Upton gave the Tigers an early lead in the top of the first inning with a two-run tater to dead centerfield for his 23rd home run of the year, Fulmer coughed up the lead quickly. It began with a four-pitch walk, then another walk, then a bloop single to centerfield. The Rangers tied the game on an Adrian Beltre sacrifice fly and then took the lead for good an inning later.

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In the second, back-to-back singles put Drew Robinson in sacrifice bunt mode. His first attempt went awry and catcher James McCann had Rougned Odor caught off second base but Nick Castellanos, who was charging on the play, could not get to third base in time for a throw from Jose Iglesias. Odor scored one play later, when Delino Deshields Jr. dropped down a sacrifice bunt just in front of home plate. With his momentum heading towards first base, McCann could not get back home to beat Odor and went for the force out at first. 

It was all the run support lefty Martin Perez and the Rangers bullpen needed. 

Fulmer, meanwhile, threw 75 pitches over five innings. It’s unclear whether he was pulled because of a pitch count or the symptoms from his previous injury recurred. He was tagged for a solo home run by Joey Gallo in the third inning and a Robinson RBI single in the fourth. He allowed five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. 

The Tigers’ discontent with home plate umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone boiled over in the fifth inning, when Ian Kinsler was thrown out after arguing a first-pitch strikeout. The hook was quick and came after a ball on the next pitch. Manager Brad Ausmus was ejected shortly thereafter. It was Kinsler’s 11th career ejection and Ausmus’ 13th. 

The Tigers totaled nine hits.

They brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning but Dixon Machado struck out with the bases loaded.

With the loss, they fall to 12 games under the .500 mark for the first time since Sept. 30, 2015.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!