Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila could not get the trade package he desired for closer Gregory Soto at Tuesday’s deadline.
Those opposing teams may feel a little better now about not relinquishing key pieces for Soto, an All-Star the past two seasons.
Soto entered a scoreless game Sunday in the ninth inning, faced seven batters and retired two, with three consecutive walks bringing in the first two runs of the game, as the Tigers melted down in the ninth inning of a 7-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park.
Soto was charged with five runs, after Jason Foley relieved him with the bases loaded and gave up a two-run single, two-run double and RBI single.
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The ninth-inning crumbling overshadowed a superb effort from Matt Manning in his second start after missing most of the season with right shoulder inflammation.
The 24-year-old pitched seven innings of four-hit ball on 96 pitches, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Manning, a slender 6-foot-6 right-hander and the ninth overall pick in the 2016 draft out of high school, and made his 22nd career start one of his best.
The Tigers’ offense was putrid once again, managing three hits in 30 at-bats. Riley Greene and Kody Clemens each had a double.
The Tigers (43-67) host Cleveland on Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers melt down in 9th, lose 7-0 to Tampa Bay Rays