DETROIT _ It turns out Matthew Boyd is human after all.
Capable of having a bad day.
Boyd struggled on Monday night against the Houston Astros, snapping a streak of seven straight quality starts.
Boyd's pitch count skyrocketed and he lasted just four innings, as the Houston Astros earned an 8-1 victory at Comerica Park.
But there was a bright spot for the Tigers: Zac Reininger, a relief pitcher, came back from a short stint in Toledo and he was outstanding.
But the Astros just beat up on the rest of the Tigers' bullpen, scoring two runs in the seventh and three in the ninth.
Boyd lasted only four innings _ his shortest appearance of the season.
He struck out just two batters _ his lowest total of the season.
And he gave up two home runs _ after giving up just three in his first eight starts.
But after those second-inning home runs, Boyd battled back. Clearly, he didn't have his best stuff and the Astros forced him his pitch count to skyrocket. He was over 70 pitches in the top of the third inning. But he was grinding, trying to stay in the game.
Boyd was able to fight his way through four innings, and that gave the Tigers a chance.
The Tigers had a great scoring opportunity to climb back in the bottom of the fourth, putting two on with one out.
Grayson Greiner hit a long sacrifice fly to left field, knocking in Jeimer Candelario. Then, Niko Goodrum struck out to end the rally.
Reininger has had a strange season, bouncing back and forth from Toledo to Detroit.
Or from Detroit to Toledo.
Or from Toledo back to Detroit, which is what happened on Monday.
The Tigers placed Tyson Ross on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 11, with right ulnar nerve neuritis; and they brought Reininger back from Toledo.
Manager Ron Gardenhire didn't hesitate to use him.
Which didn't seem exactly promising.
Reininger came into the game with a 14.85 ERA. He had pitched in six games, allowing 11 runs in 6 2/3 innings, including five home runs.
But Reininger was simply perfect for the Tigers, blanking the Astros.
He pitched two hitless, scoreless, stress-free innings, facing the top of the Astros' batting order.
He got George Springer to hit a soft fly ball to center. Alex Bregman hit a deep fly ball to left. And Michael Brantley ground out to short.
It was an impressive performance, to say the least.
Niko Goodrum led off for the Tigers and hit a long fly ball to right field in the first inning.
But he was robbed by Springer.
Springer jumped up, his left arm going over the yellow line and took a home run away from Goodrum.
It was a fantastic play. Destined for ESPN.
But it totally changed the mood for the Tigers.
And this was a day of close, but not enough for the Tigers' offense. Miguel Cabrera hit a deep fly ball to left center in the bottom of the eighth. But he didn't have enough power and it was tracked down. After playing in his 39th game of the season, Cabrera has just one home run.
The game ended with Goodrum ripped a ball to right field, but Springer caught it to end the game.
