Tigers fall as bullpen game gets away in 10th

It turned out to be a bullpen day for the Tigers on Monday afternoon at American Family Field, and it went well until the 10th inning, when Luis Urías’ walk-off single helped the Brewers to a 3-2 win.

• Box score

With Tigers right-hander José Cisnero on the mound, Urías singled to right field, scoring Omar Narváez for the victory. It was the first extra-inning loss for the Tigers this season.

“Honestly, I wasn't looking for anything. I was trying to stay short to the ball and drive it to the middle,” Urías said. “[Cisnero] was throwing heat so I wasn't trying to do too much. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit. I think it was kind of outside, but I'm glad that I stayed through it."

It was a game that saw Tigers manager A.J. Hinch use seven relievers, six of whom were able to limit Milwaukee to two runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts in the first nine innings.

Right-hander Rony García Rony García&#16 led the way with three shutout innings after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo before the game.

Right-hander Kyle Funkhouser was overpowering, striking out four batters in two innings. And Milwaukee couldn’t touch left-hander Gregory Soto, struggling to put his 99 mph fastball in play.

“Our guys have really stepped up,” Hinch said. “This is the first live look that I’ve had at Rony García. He is not scared. He throws strikes. He has multiple pitches. He is able to move the ball around.

“Funk has been steadily getting better every outing. We gently kind of worked him in a very important role in our bullpen. He continues to respond with quality outings.

“Soto makes it exciting … against their left-handed hitters. He strands a guy at second and gave us a chance to win.”

During the fifth inning, Hinch was longing for the designated hitter after seeing García at the plate. After Jake Rogers reached base on a walk, it was obvious that García had never bunted in his life. Maybe Hinch could have used a pinch-hitter in that situation, but the Tigers needed length from García.

“That was unfair to [García],” Hinch said. “I’ll go on the record: I kind of prefer the DH for American League teams. We prefer the DH. Our pitchers are at a disadvantage. It doesn’t matter how much you practice or don’t practice, they are uncomfortable. We have some guys that have some at-bats in their career, but these are the rules we play under. We know that. No excuse. I prefer the DH.”

The only blemish from the bullpen came in the sixth inning, when Brewers shortstop Willy Adames hit a go-ahead two-run homer off left-hander Daniel Norris.

But the Tigers were able to tie the score an inning later on a solo homer by Akil Baddoo. It was his first home run since April 13 against the Astros.

“We came in and battled. Tough-fought game, but we came up short,” Hinch said.