Watch Tigers give up 2 runs to Yankees in most embarrassing way possible

The Detroit Tigers seemed to be easily out of the first inning against the Yankees unscathed. Then an unreal error changed that in a flash. 

Getting through the vaunted New York Yankees lineup is far from an easy task but Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tyler Alexander seemed to be on his way to doing that in the first inning on Tuesday after getting himself into a jam.

An Aaron Hicks single was followed by both Anthony Rizzo and D.J. LeMahieu drawing walks for New York but, with two outs to his credit, all Alexander needed was to get Josh Donaldson out to escape the bases-loaded jam and the first inning. And it seemed like he’d done that when he got the veteran third baseman to hit a lazy pop-up just in front of him.

Instead, disaster struck.

Alexander tried to casually make the catch to get the out but, for whatever reason, had immense trouble securing the grab. Catcher Tucker Barnhart tried to make the save on the out but wasn’t able to recover, thus allowing the ball to drop with Hicks and Rizzo crossing the plate due to the unreal error.

Tigers: Tyler Alexander’s embarrassing error plates two Yankees

If you’re still trying to figure out how Alexander didn’t make that catch, you’re not alone.

Thankfully for the sanity of Tigers fans, Alexander was able to strike out Joey Gallo on the next at-bat for the Yankees to limit the damage. However, that error and two-run first inning for New York was apparently all that manager A.J. Hinch needed to see as Alexander was pulled before the second inning.

Detroit has gotten off to an inauspicious 4-5 start to the season despite hopes of a resurgent team from the Motor City this season. Plays like this one aren’t going to do much to inspire optimism that a turnaround is coming soon.