Detroit Tigers, Game 39: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

The News' Andrew Graham gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 4-3 loss to the Royals on Friday:

One thing I loved

Detroit needed nothing more than a strong, long-innings outing from a starter. And unlikely as it might seem to some — though certainly not to those with the Tigers who have poured so much into his pitching success — Keider Montero delivered exactly what the ailing club needed in a series opener on the road against Kansas City. Long innings, few hits and fewer runs. And I love that for Montero.

Montero got through the first 15 outs on 54 pitches, as he retired 10 consecutive batters at one point. He battled some two-out traffic in the sixth that took his pitch count over 70, but got out of the jam with a fly out to right field, preserving a lead Detroit had pulled out to in the top of the inning.

Montero went six innings on 71 pitches, giving up one run on three hits while striking out four and walking one.

Montero has been called upon in the last two seasons when needing a pitcher to fill in for a start or a stretch of starts for an injured pitcher. With Detroit's rotation and bullpen battered by injury and a suspension, the Tigers needed Montero to come through in his start on Friday.

Detroit has stuck with Montero these past few years. His swing-and-miss changeup and command were evident on Friday. And this would surely be an opportune time for the pitcher to really pull it all together.

One thing I didn't

That bottom of the eighth inning was a debacle. Kyle Finnegan came on to pitch after Tyler Holton managed the seventh inning just fine, and promptly gave up a double, then a single.