DETROIT -- Brad Ausmus tried to stem the questions before they began.
"The story is not K-Rod," the Detroit Tigers manager said to reporters, shortly after his team lost to the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Struggling reliever Kyle Ryan optioned as Tigers activate Jose Iglesias
Ryan has walked seven and struck out one in 5 2/3 innings over eight appearances.
In some ways, he's right. After scoring 19 runs in the series opener on Tuesday, the Tigers' bats were once again silent on Thursday, managing only four hits, of which Tyler Collins was responsible for three.