Ian Kinsler,Miguel Cabrera

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (24) nearly overruns Ian Kinsler as they both score on a two-run single by Victor Martinez during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- No, the Detroit Tigers outfielders were not losing the ball in the lights, the catwalks, or against the cream-colored backdrop of the Tropicana Field roof.

The outfield miscues in the Tigers' 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday were as a result of another aspect unique to this ballpark: Acoustics.

In the first three innings, two easy fly balls dropped between center fielder JaCoby Jones, right fielder Tyler Collins and second baseman Ian Kinsler.

It was easy to assume that the roof was to blame. But the Tigers said the culprit was far more mundane.

"Unfortunately, the source of confusion was coming from the stands," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. "Someone in the stands was yelling, 'I got it!' That's why Kinsler went out acting like he had it and then he heard someone say, 'I got it!' so he backed off.

"We had to change our signals. It was the Rays' fans causing confusion."

In an outdoor stadium, or one filled with fans, vocal interference from the stands isn't a concern for outfielders.

Tropicana was largely empty on Wednesday (12,281 was the listed attendance), but the acoustics make it easy for strong-lunged fans to play havoc with outfielders.

The stadium is intimate for a dome, almost like an auditorium. When a ball bounces off the wall, it can be heard clearly on the other side of the park. The snap of the ball in a glove echoes crisply. Beer vendors in left field can be heard behind home plate.

Outfielders have authority to call off infielders, and that's what Kinsler thought was happening when he pursued a ball into the shallow outfield.

"I just got out of the way," Kinsler said.

Except Jones wasn't calling off Kinsler, a fact they soon realized.

"It was a weird game," Kinsler said.