Detroit Tigers piled upon early in Game 2, swept in doubleheader by Royals, losing, 7-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Faedo failed to escape the second inning.

The 26-year-old, pitching for the first time since July 4 and second time since June 25, couldn't command his pitches in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals.

The Tigers lost, 7-3.

Faedo served as the Tigers' 27th player for the doubleheader, as the organization avoids using him on a regular workload to monitor his innings as the All-Star break approaches.

Making his 12th career start, Faedo threw 37 pitches in the first inning and 23 pitches for two outs in the second inning. As a result of his early struggles, and the offense stranding too many runners on base, the Tigers (36-51) dropped their fourth game in a row and were swept in the doubleheader.

Faedo, who has a 5.53 ERA, allowed four runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts, tossing 29 of his 60 pitches for strikes. He fired first-pitch strikes to four of the 13 batters he faced.

Manager A.J. Hinch replaced Faedo with left-handed reliever Tyler Alexander, who needed 40 pitches (31 strikes) for the final out in the second inning and three full innings. He gave up one run.

After the three innings, Royals rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. already notched three hits and two RBIs. The 22-year-old went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a stolen base in Game 2, after going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

The Royals selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft, before the Tigers grabbed outfielder Riley Greene — who did not play in Game 2 — with the No. 5 overall selection.

In the eighth inning, Witt delivered an RBI single for a 6-2 lead.

Miggy's still got it

In the fifth inning, Miguel Cabrera doubled to left field against right-handed reliever Jose Cuas. The 39-year-old drove in the Tigers' third run, cutting the deficit to 5-3. With that hit, Cabrera tied Paul Molitor for 15th on the all-time doubles list and tied Ken Griffey Jr. for 15th on the all-time RBIs list.

Cabrera, an All-Star in 2022, has 605 doubles and 1,836 RBIs in his 20-year MLB career.

Before Cabrera's RBI single in the fifth, the Tigers scored one run in the first and fourth innings.

Leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman reached safely on a fielder error by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera, and Javier Báez followed up with a double on a first-pitch fastball from left-hander Daniel Lynch.

After three pitches, the Tigers controlled a 1-0 lead. But Lynch retired the next three batters in order: Cabrera (groundout), Eric Haase (strikeout) and Jonathan Schoop (flyout).

In the fourth, Willi Castro opened the inning with a double to center field and scored on an infield single from Jeimer Candelario.

Lynch allowed three runs (two earned runs) on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts over four-plus innings. He threw 72 pitches and exited with a trainer after Grossman's single in the fifth.

The Tigers' offense — 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position — finished with 11 hits, one walk and six strikeouts. There were runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth inning, but Candelario struck out looking.

Faedo finished early

The Royals' offense struck immediately.

Faedo walked leadoff hitter MJ Melendez on five pitches, then gave up an RBI double to Witt — his 18th double this season — on an 2-0 fastball (clocked at 90.7 mph), tying the game at one run.

The next four batters produced two walks and two strikeouts, loading the bases for Kyle Isbel. He hammered a full-count fastball with a 105.4 mph exit velocity, but the ball traveled directly to the right fielder for the third out.

Faedo, despite 37 pitches (17 strikes), stranded the bases loaded and allowed just one run in the first inning. Returning for the second frame didn't solve his problems, as the Royals rattled off three straight singles with one out.

Witt put the Royals ahead 2-1 with his RBI single.

Hunter Dozier lined out to left field for the second out, which ended Faedo's outing. Alexander entered to face left-handed hitter Ryan O'Hearn, who drove in two runs with a single on the second pitch he saw.

Both runs were charged to Faedo.

O'Hearn's two-run single made it 4-1.

For his 60 pitches, Faedo threw 28 sliders (47%), 28 four-seam fastballs (47%) and four changeups (7%). He recorded four swings and misses, all with his slider, and 12 called strikes.

Oh, what a relief

Once Faedo exited, the Tigers called four pitchers out of the bullpen to cover the rest of the game.

Alexander handled the most important stretch, keeping the Tigers in the game and giving them a chance to win by carrying the pitching staff through the fifth inning. The Royals scored one run against him in the third — a sacrifice fly from Melendez — for a 5-1 lead.

The next two pitchers kept the Royals from scoring: Jason Foley in the sixth inning and Joe Jiménez in the seventh. Alex Lange conceded two runs in the eighth inning, with Kansas City scoring its seventh and final run on a wild pitch.

Jimenez averaged 96.4 mph with his fastball, topping out at 97.2 mph, and struck out two batters. He has 16 multi-strikeout relief appearances this season, tied for second-most in the American League.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers swept in doubleheader by Royals, losing Game 2, 7-3