DETROIT _ The Detroit Tigers made progress on Saturday evening: They scored a run.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, as their journeymen lineup faced perhaps the best pitcher in the American League, Bryan Holaday singled home a run on a bloop hit to center field.
It was the only run they would score against Indians ace Corey Kluber.
Once again overpowered by a better opponent and once again not getting sufficient starting pitching from Jordan Zimmermann, the Tigers lost to the Indians, 5-2 at Comerica Park.
Zimmermann's struggles continued: He allowed five runs on a career-high 12 hits and was punched in the mouth right from the get-go, when the Indians scored four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning.
After recording the first out of the game, Zimmermann's first went like this: Bradley Zimmer tripled to right-center field on a ball that was misplayed by right fielder Alex Presley, Jose Ramirez tripled, Edwin Encarnacion singled, Carlos Santana doubled and after a pop out, back-to-back singles.
Against Kluber, the Tigers' lineup _ without first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who began serving a six-game suspension _ had little chance.
Kluber pitched eight innings, allowing one run on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked none. The Tigers' run in the seventh inning snapped a scoreless streak of 16 innings.
Mikie Mahtook created the run by doubling to left-center field to start the seventh, though Mahtook nearly ran into an out at second base. After video replay, the call was overturned. The Tigers' biggest positive offensively came from Alex Presley, who went 4 for 4, recording his first career four-hit game. Holaday had two hits.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 58-77. They are 19 games under the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 1, 2005.
