Detroit — There was the two-run home run by the Texas Rangers’ Mitch Moreland on May 7. And the three-run triple by Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on May 20. And then on Thursday, the back-breaking three-run triple by the New York Yankees’ Jacoby Ellsbury.
If there was a three-strike reason Tigers left-handed reliever Kyle Ryan was sent back to Toledo — that was it. All three of those hits came off Ryan by left-handed hitters.
Ryan’s ineffectiveness against lefties is profound and baffling. They were hitting .364 against him with five extra base hits and a 1.