Pen Implodes Again as Tigers Rally to Top Indians 9-8; three takeaways

We've all had to endure the Indians bullpen being bad, but Tuesday night in Detroit might be rock bottom for a team that thinks they are in the mix to make the

We've all had to endure the Indians bullpen being bad, but Tuesday night in Detroit might be rock bottom for a team that thinks they are in the mix to make the World Series.

After having leads of 5-1 and 8-3, the pen again gave up runs in bunches, and this time it wasn't the likes of Evan Marshall or Zach McAllister, but Dan Otero and Andrew Miller, and the end result was an ugly 9-8 loss to the Tigers.

No matter how you cut it, this team isn't going anywhere unless they find some relief help, and fast. A lot of people felt that once Miller returned the pen would get back to getting opponents out, but to this point it just isn't happening.

The loss puts the Indians now at 20-21 on the season, back to where they were Friday at a game under .500. They've got one more shot at the Tigers before a three-game stretch in Houston starting Friday.

Here's the three takeaways from a truly awful loss in Detroit.

1. Start with the Pen

There's not much you can say when a team has a four and five run lead, and two of their most reliable arms in the pen give it all back in what seems like record time.

That's exactly how it went though in Comerica Park Tuesday, as after Josh Tomlin left the game and Tyler Olson was able to get two outs, Dan Otero and Andrew Miller imploded in dramatic fashion.

Otero, who now sports an ERA of 7.47, allowed three runs on two hits and was only able to get one batter out in his time on the mound.

Enter Miller, who walked three batters, gave up two runs on two hits, and gave the lead right back to the Tigers after the Indians led the game 8-3 entering the bottom of the 6th.

The five-run seventh was hard to watch, and it's got to be killing this organization right now to know that they are giving away games because guys in the bullpen can't do their jobs.

2. Tomlin Wasn't Great, but For Once It Wasn't His Fault

The Indians offense did more than enough for Josh Tomlin, and finally the Indians starter seemed to have enough support to get a win, but instead suffered a no-decision as he left the game looking like he would get a win, but it was not to be.

Tomlin went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, no walks and four K's, throwing 78 pitches, 54 of which were strikes.

He wasn't great by any means, but left the game with the Indians up four runs, and by all accounts should now be 1-4 instead of 0-4 with a no-decision attached to his name.

His two best starts in 2018 have been against the Tigers, but on this night the pen disaster made his outing nothing but a sidebar to this one-run loss.

1. The Indians Bats Were Back

Tuesday night got started with the teams' third grand slam of the season, this time by Brandon Guyer of all players, who put the Indians up 4-0 in the first inning.

They pushed it to 5-1 in the second inning on a homer by Erik Gonzlaez, and all seemed to be going right for the Wahoo's.

Things got even better as they scored three more in the 6th, Rajai Davis with a RBI double to bring in two and Jose Ramirez doubling in Davis to make it 8-3.

On the night the team pounded out 13 hits, 8 runs, and even 8 walks while striking out five times.

The bats can be as hot as they want to be, but if this bullpen keeps up blowing leads like it seems to want to keep doing, none of that is going to matter.