The Detroit Tigers faced a challenging weekend against the Cincinnati Reds, culminating in an 8-4 defeat on June 15 at Comerica Park. Elly De La Cruz, the standout designated hitter for the Reds, played a significant role in the series—hitting 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a crucial two-run home run in the ninth inning that sealed the victory for Cincinnati.
The Tigers struggled to maintain their early lead, which they had built in part due to a solo home run from Jahmai Jones in the third inning, marking his second home run of the season. They went into the eighth inning with a 4-2 advantage, but their pitching faltered dramatically. Reliever Brant Hurter began the eighth, and closer Will Vest could not hold the lead after entering the game. A throwing error by Hurter and subsequent singles allowed the Reds to tie and then take the lead, showcasing a series of defensive lapses by the Tigers that included key errors from players like shortstop Javier Báez.
Despite a promising rally in the seventh, which featured a go-ahead single from Gleyber Torres and a double from Riley Greene, the Tigers were unable to hold off the Reds. De La Cruz’s impressive performance not only helped him score runs but also highlighted a trend where the Tigers struggled to contain him throughout the series; he scored a total of six runs against Detroit during the three-game set.
This weekend’s series loss brings to light an ongoing challenge for the Tigers, who are dealing with a strained pitching rotation and have had to rely heavily on bullpen games. With notable injuries contributing to this situation, the Tigers will need to find ways to rebuild their pitching strength, as they look to recover from this tough stretch.
Overall, while the outcome was disappointing for the Tigers, the glimpses of potential shown by players like Jones, Torres, and Greene illustrate that there is room for optimism as the season progresses, especially with hopes of reinforcements returning to the rotation soon. The ability to address these defensive issues will be crucial if the team wants to turn their fortunes around and compete effectively moving forward.