DETROIT _ Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann had his longest outing of the season.
But the Detroit Tigers lost for the sixth time in their past eight games.
Zimmermann allowed two runs on six hits over a season-high eight innings. He didn't allow a walk and struck out five.
The Tigers had plenty of opportunities to give Zimmermann more run support, but they went on to lose, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
Zimmermann hadn't pitched more than six innings in any of his previous 12 starts this season. He threw a season-high 108 pitches. It was the fourth time he has thrown 100 or more pitches in a game and the most since he threw 103 at the Tampa Bay Rays on April 19.
The Tigers (30-34) were swept in the two-game series at Comerica Park by the Diamondbacks, who are coached by former Tiger Torey Lovullo.
Zimmermann has allowed four runs in a span of 20 innings over his past three starts. The Tigers fell to 5-8 in Zimmermann's 13 starts.
The outfield defense didn't do Zimmermann any early favors. A bloop single by Gregor Blanco got past left fielder Justin Upton. Blanco went to third on the fielding error and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by David Peralta. Paul Goldschmidt followed with a single and eventually scored on a two-out single by Brandon Drury.
The Tigers cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third. Ian Kinsler hit a two-out double to left and Alex Avila followed with a RBI double to left.
The Tigers had chances to tie the game in the fourth and fifth inning but failed to do so.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the fourth, Andrew Romine struck out swinging at a 95-mph fastball from Taijuan Walker.
The Tigers had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth before Victor Martinez flied out to left.
Walker allowed one run on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out six. It was his first start since being reinstated from the 10-day disabled list. Walker went on the DL on May 21 for a blister on his right index finger.
J.D. Martinez hit a 93-mph fastball from Randall Delgado to the warning track in right in the sixth inning.
Alex Avila flied out to the warning track in left in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Tigers.
With a runner on first and two out in the eighth inning, J.D. Martinez struck out swinging at a high fastball from Delgado.
Ex-Tiger Fernando Rodney struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save for the Diamondbacks. Upton and Nick Castellanos both struck out looking at change-ups. Romine struck out swinging.
