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The Cardinals dropped to 2-11 in interleague play at Comerica Park over five seasons when they lost 6-3 to the Detroit Tigers and ace right-hander Justin Verlander on Tuesday.
Verlander gave up just one earned run in seven innings, and young right-hander Lance Lynn, a 10-game winner, wasn't a match for the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner.
The loss left the Cardinals at the .500 level (34-34) for the fourth time this season. It also left Lynn at 10-3 after a taxing 102-pitch outing over five innings.
"He looked a little bogged down from the beginning," said manager Mike Matheny. "That really isn't how he's pitched all year, but young pitchers are going to have those days."
Lynn said, "Against a team like this, if you're behind in the count all night, they're going to hurt you. I've got to be better than that, especially with who they had going for them.
"You've got to come with your 'A' game if you plan on having any success against this team. And tonight I didn't have it. I wasn't sharp and they made me pay for it."
Matheny thought Lynn's fastball was his undoing -- it often sailed out of the strike zone. "I was kind of feeling through it and I left some pitches up," Lynn said. "In the outings where I've been less successful, I've been behind in counts and that's going to hurt you, no matter who you are."
SS Rafael Furcal, who never has been voted an All-Star Game starter, has taken over the balloting lead at shortstop for the National League team for the July 10 All-Star Game in Kansas City. Furcal leads Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki by 94,000 votes. "They finally want to see me, maybe," said Furcal, who has been on All-Star teams in 2003 and 2010 as a reserve. Furcal, who started Tuesday night's game in a 2-for-32 nosedive, went 0-for-4 although he hit one ball hard.
LF Allen Craig, getting his first look at Detroit RHP Justin Verlander, saw him throw 91 to 95 miles an hour most of the night before Verlander cranked up three pitches of 100 mph or better in the seventh inning while facing Craig with the bases loaded. Craig then fanned on an 87 mph curveball. "It was fun to be a part of, to have him come at me like that," said Craig. "He beat me on that one."
2B/OF Skip Schumaker, who missed the start of the season because of a strained right oblique, came back for a while and then went out again with a strained right hamstring, was back on the roster and in center field Tuesday. He went 0-for-3. "Hopefully I can stick around longer this time and not get back on this (disabled list). Because it's miserable," said Schumaker.
INF/OF Matt Carpenter, who had been on a rehabilitation assignment as he rehabbed a sore oblique, was moved from Class AAA Memphis to Class AA Springfield because the latter team was in action on Monday while Memphis wasn't. Meanwhile, CF Jon Jay (sprained right shoulder) has joined the Memphis team. Carpenter is expected back sooner than Jay.
OF Matt Holliday, who is nursing a sore hip flexor, got a day off on defense as manager Mike Matheny made him the designated hitter on Tuesday. Matheny said the injury was "something that's manageable. But it's something we want to keep our eye on."
2B Kolten Wong of Class AA Springfield has been named to the United States squad and Springfield OF Oscar Taveras has been named to the international squad for the "Futures Game" roster on July 8 at Kansas City.
Average for SS Rafael Furcal over his last 10 games.
"It's pretty standard with him. He cruises early with plenty of good stuff and turns it up a notch when he has to." Manager Mike Matheny on Detroit RHP Justin Verlander, who threw 100 and 101 miles an hour to the last hitter he faced, LF Allen Craig, on Tuesday, before fanning Craig on an 87 mph curveball.
