Detroit’s manager dearly let them down in a 2-1 loss.

It was 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth after a massive rain delay at Comerica Park. Miguel Cabrera led off with a walk, and Rajai Davis pinch-ran. Up batted V, who sliced a single into left.

ENTER SMALL BALL! “Next time Brad, bunt! With no outs, Davis could also steal – either way, get him to third with one out and win! It’s called a sac fly, you have plenty of power.”

Yoenis Cespedes took the plate. He’s fast, as is Davis. AT THE VERY LEAST, he needs to bunt here for us. And if you want, let Rajai steal third and win us the game. With J.D. batting behind Cespedes, a sac fly would have been easy.

Instead, Cespedes barely popped up past the infield. And J.D. Martinez repeated the feat, with no inclination of Davis stealing. Up next, Nick Castellanos loaded the bases with a walk. “The Can” gave us a nice at-bat before flying out (deep enough with one less out to sacrifice a walk-off).

You simply cannot blame the Tigers. This is literally what the word “manage” means: do your goddamn job, Ausmus!

Now it turns ugly. Kansas City got the leadoff man on after Angel Nesbitt only grazed jersey, but it’s still a hit by pitch. Then, a wild pitch allowed him to snarf second. He was bunted over, then sac flied home. Even though it was cheap, they took advantage of a base runner like we should have.

Down 2-1, desperation clung to the air. Instead, the remaining fans in Detroit rallied hard. Andrew Romine inspired hope with a leadoff single past the second basemen. This time, Anthony Gose flashed bunt. He worked it so well, he actually took a walk. So, Ian Kinsler tried to bunt. And he, too, earned a full count before taking his base on balls! Bases loaded, no outs!

(SMALL BALL?) PLEASE! BUT NO – Brad Ausmus used Hernan (the dreaded) Perez to pinch-hit. And he honestly did about the only bad thing one could do here: ground into the double play at home. WTF?

Down to our last out, Victor Martinez worked another walk. But Cespedes struck out swinging to end the game. COME ON! We are so much better than them, but if we don’t do the little things, we’ll be doomed.