On a windy Friday afternoon, the new Rangers pitching coach watched as all that could go wrong with his pitching staff did in a 15-2 thrashing at the hands of the Detroit Tigers.

In the end, the Rangers walked eight Tigers and hit two more to account for 10 free bases.

In the season opener, Kevin Millwood, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco combined for one free base. In each of the next three games, the total has increased, from five to six to 10.

"I think the walks hit a crescendo today, but we're 3-1," Maddux said. "I don't think it's as applicable to the other games. Today's game was tough to watch.

"A lot of (Detroit's) runs were due to some good fortune. And then the seventh and eighth innings were brutal. You are just shooting yourself in the foot when you do that. If could have a mulligan, I'd like it to be this day."

Maddux is unaccustomed to handing out baskets of free bases. During his six years as Milwaukee's pitching coach, Maddux saw his pitchers issue eight or more walks unintentionally 31 times in nine-inning games.

The Rangers had 10 of those games last year and 52 over the same time that Maddux was in Milwaukee.

If there has been one disconcerting aspect to the Rangers' otherwise sharp start, it's been the work of the bullpen.

Right-handers Warner Madrigal and Josh Rupe were perhaps the last two guys to make the bullpen. Friday, they combined to allow seven of the free bases over a the final two Detroit at-bats.

After retiring the first five batters he faced, Madrigal lost all sight of the strike zone. He hit Gerald Laird, then walked the Nos. 8-9 hitters to load the bases.

After walking in a run, Madrigal was pulled. Rupe then allowed another RBI-walk and two hits before finally ending the inning.

TIGERS 15, RANGERS 2: The Rangers' three-game win streak to start the season came to a thudding halt Friday in a place that has been an unpleasant stop for manager Ron Washington. The Rangers lost for the fifth consecutive time at Comerica Park and have not won there since Sept. 11, 2007. Detroit broke open the game with five runs in the fourth inning. Right-hander Kris Benson was hurt by two soft singles by the Tigers bottom two hitters, then allowed a wind-blown double to Curtis Granderson and hit Placido Polanco. He struck out Magglio Ordonez for the second out of the inning. Benson then tried to get a sinking fastball to the inside corner against Miguel Cabrera, but the 88 mph pitch was flat and the Tigers cleanup hitter turned it into a grand slam.