After a couple of wins, the Tigers dropped one to the Devil Rays last night and in the process, they lost sole possession of first place in the Wild Card race after the Mariners won last night.  The Tigers have a slight lead as far as winning percentage, but they’re a game back in the more important loss column so this slide hasn’t just cost them the division lead, it’s cost them a nice cushion for a playoff spot in general.

Chad Durbin got off to a rough start and he didn’t even last the official five innings.  He gave up two runs in the first and then he loaded the bases up in the fifth.  Macay McBride allowed one of those runners to score and then he gave up two more of his own in the sixth as the Rays opened the game up.  In the mean time, James Shields was shutting down the Tigers hitters.

The Tigers lone run came on a Placido Polanco solo homerun in the fourth inning.  Polanco was also the only Tiger hitter with two hits.  The Tigers struck out thirteen times and didn’t walk once in a tough day at the plate.

Game four is this afternoon and it’ll be a great matchup of two young pitchers in Scott Kazmir against Jeremy Bonderman.  Game time is 1:05.

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