Turnbull can't get grip of command against KC

DETROIT -- Seventeen pitchers have picked up double-digit losses so far this season. Only one has a lower ERA than Tigers rookie Spencer Turnbull.

There are worse pitchers to be grouped with than Marcus Stroman.

“Out of Spring Training, I said I really like this kid,” manager Ron Gardenhire said after Saturday night’s 7-0 loss to the Royals at Comerica Park, “and he hasn’t disappointed me at all. I think he has a different makeup, which is good. And I think he’s a competitor. It’s just going to take some time here with that command.”

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That command will likely be the focus of Turnbull’s remaining starts before he hits his innings limit. He’ll get reps to repeat his delivery and try to corral his arsenal. Even amidst those struggles, however, his 3.68 ERA is by far the best of the Tigers’ starters. He pitched well enough on Saturday to drop his ERA a tick, but he could do nothing about outpitching Royals lefty Mike Montgomery.

It was far from a terrible outing for Turnbull. In fact, it was his first quality start since July 17. Five days after he used 76 pitches over three innings in his return from the injured list, he lasted twice as long on just 90 pitches, allowing just three hits and a walk. His pitches in his previous outing had so much movement that he struggled to spot them in the strike zone, even when he aimed for the middle of the plate.

For three innings against the Royals, he was more composed.

“He was rolling, simple as that,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “He had all his stuff going for him. He was a little quick in his delivery at times, but other than that, those first three innings were unbelievable.”

Turnbull was unhittable early on, retiring the first nine Royals in order. Three of his nine outs, however, came on balls in play with exit velocities of 99 mph and up, according to Statcast. Once the lineup turned over, two of the three hits Turnbull allowed came in the fourth, producing all the offense the Royals needed.

Jorge Soler’s two-run homer, which traveled a Statcast projected 444 feet, to right-center in the fourth inning was the second Kansas City home run in three nights to the deepest part of Comerica Park, right under Heinie Manush’s name on the brick outfield wall. Soler punished a high fastball from Turnbull, who was left to pay for his third consecutive 2-0 count. Humberto Arteaga’s sixth-inning ground-ball single was the only other hit Turnbull (3-10) allowed.

“He just kind of lost it a little bit,” Rogers said, “but from my point of view, he did good. He did what he needed to do, commanded his pitches well, and we were on the same page most of the night.”

Five days after Turnbull produced seven strikeouts, he induced just seven swings and misses. His eight called strikes off his fastball marked progress. He continues to work toward regaining the slider that was so effective for him early in the season, but the Royals focused on hitting the fastball, shrugging off his secondary stuff.

“He misfires a little bit,” Gardenhire said. “His windup gets out. He ends up falling open every once in a while. It’s just things he has to work on and do more consistently, but he has the stuff, there’s no doubt.”

Turnbull’s outing gave the Tigers a chance before Jordy Mercer’s fifth error in nine games and Gregory Soto’s two-run throwing error helped the Royals pull away. Meanwhile, the Tigers never mounted a rally against Montgomery, who Kansas City acquired from the Cubs for Martin Maldonado last month. Montgomery racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts, including fanning eight of Detroit’s first 12 hitters.