The Detroit Tigers’ struggles on Saturdays continued as they suffered a heavy defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, losing 11-1. This marked the team’s ongoing woes, with their last Saturday victory dating back to April. Jack Flaherty, who took the mound for the Tigers, had a challenging outing, allowing seven earned runs over five innings. His performance, marked by five walks and five strikeouts, caused his ERA to rise from 3.41 to 4.03.
The game saw both teams begin with strong first innings, but the Reds opened the scoring in the fourth with a homer from Elly De La Cruz. The Tigers momentarily tied the game in the fourth thanks to Wenceel Pérez’s single, bringing in Riley Greene. However, the Reds quickly regained the lead, highlighted by a grand slam from Tyler Stephenson in the fifth inning that ballooned their lead to 6-1.
In the latter stages of the game, relief pitcher John Brebbia struggled, giving up a three-run homer, extending the deficit further. Despite the disappointing outcome, there were a few bright spots for the Tigers, including Colt Keith’s strong performance, who repeatedly showcased his potential.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will aim to break their Saturday losing streak in tomorrow’s rubber match against the Reds, where RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long will face veteran LHP Wade Miley. With plenty of competition left in the season, there’s hope that the Tigers can regroup and find their winning rhythm again.