DETROIT -- The calendar in manager Ron Gardenhire’s office read June 27. The line score felt like Groundhog Day.

Gardenhire's Tigers continue to battle, but they also continue to struggle to hit. On a day when Spencer Turnbull’s second-inning exit could have spelled disaster for Detroit’s pitching, the Tigers' bullpen -- led by three innings of one-run ball from Nick Ramirez -- kept them close despite two Joey Gallo solo homers, but could do little about Detroit’s offense in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Texas at Comerica Park.

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Hours after Mike Minor tossed a complete-game five-hitter for the Rangers, Ariel Jurado followed with seven scoreless innings before Miguel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly off Chris Martin ended an 11-inning scoring drought. It’s part of a pattern for the Tigers this month, and Gardenhire is trying to figure out how to change it up.

“They're trying. They're rooting in the dugout,” Gardenhire said on Wednesday. “But eventually, we have to quit trying and start doing, start getting those hits. Because this is getting old in a hurry, I think, for everybody in this clubhouse. It's not easy coming in here losing at home, especially when you're supposed to take care of home and we're not doing that. It's frustrating.

“You know what? We have to get over that, find a way to get some hits. Somebody has to do something special.”

The Tigers have lost 20 of their past 22 home games since mid-May, and 18 of 22 games overall in June. They’ve scored three runs or fewer in 14 of those games, compared with six games scoring five runs or more. Detroit's 73 runs in 22 games this month are the fewest in the Majors.

The Tigers know the fans’ frustration, because they feel it, too.

“It’s frustrating for us,” infielder Gordon Beckham said, “but the only way we can get better is to keep showing up and keep putting in the work. I mean, we’re better than what we’ve shown, and it’s not for lack of try. Sometimes, it’s probably too much try.”

Gardenhire has tried to do what he can to shake up the offense. After searching for ways to extend the lineup, he moved JaCoby Jones into the leadoff spot and shuffled Nicholas Castellanos and Cabrera up to the second and third spots in the order last week, creating a top third designed to plate some runs while tucking in a group of young power hitters behind them with hopes of supplementing offense with one swing.

Gardenhire then regained the services of Jeimer Candelario on Wednesday, adding a switch-hitter to a heavily right-handed lineup.

So far, the mix has yet to click. While the aforementioned top third of the order accounted for all five hits in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss, Brandon Dixon’s home run was the lone damage off Minor in Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat.

Thursday was a return of the top third: Jones led off the eighth with a 419-foot double to the wall in left-center, advanced to third on a Castellanos fly ball, then scored when Cabrera lined out to center. Most of Detroit’s offense until then came with two outs, despite Harold Castro’s first career three-hit game.

Castro’s third hit sparked a two-out rally in the ninth against Shawn Kelley. Beckham’s ensuing single put the potential tying run on base for pinch-hitter Niko Goodrum.

“We stayed in the game, got close at the end, got men on,” Gardenhire said. “They’re trying. It’s just a rough time. I’ve said it over and over again: I don’t have answers for it, other than they’re up there trying to get hits. The guy made pitches when he had to, and we just missed some. It’s the same old story.”

The result, beyond frustration, is a helpless feeling for Gardenhire and his staff.

“We’re working out here. We live and die with those guys on the field. Every time they strike out, we feel terrible,” Gardenhire said. “The hitting coaches, they’re tireless, working here all day long, trying to get this right. It’s a group. We’re together in this. And we’ll continue to get after it. We just need something special to happen, one big swing, whatever it might be. Today it could’ve been one big hit.”

The struggles nullified what amounted to an effective bullpen start after Turnbull’s early departure with right shoulder fatigue. Ramirez, Buck Farmer, Blaine Hardy, Joe Jimenez and Jose Cisnero combined for seven innings of two-run ball with 10 strikeouts. Gallo’s two-homer game essentially provided the difference.

“Everyone came out and threw well,” said Ramirez, who struck out four. “You can’t plan for something like [Turnbull’s exit]. When your number’s called, you just come out and compete.”