There was a buzz at Comerica Park on Wednesday, June 25, but by the end of the night, it had faded into frustration. The Detroit Tigers dropped the second game of their three-game set against the Oakland Athletics with a disappointing 3-0 loss, all thanks to a nightmare third inning and a no-show from the offense. As the season reached its mathematical halfway point, this one stung — not because it was a blowout, but because it was a game that felt within reach.
Let’s rewind to that pivotal third inning.
Jack Flaherty, Detroit’s 29-year-old right-hander, found himself in trouble after issuing two walks. With two outs and both runners on base, he left a changeup hanging — middle-down in the strike zone. That was all A’s slugger Nick Kurtz needed. Boom. He launched a 438-foot missile over the shrubs in center field, a three-run homer that sucked the air out of Comerica and turned Flaherty’s outing on its head. It was the only scoring play of the game, but it was more than enough.
Flaherty had some flashes of brilliance, but command issues continued to plague him. He allowed five hits, four walks, and three earned runs across six innings while striking out seven. He needed 90 pitches to get through it and now carries a 4.80 ERA through 16 starts. Alarmingly, he’s walked at least three batters in each of his last four appearances, racking up 12 free passes over just his last three starts.
Even with the numbers not tilting in his favor, there were encouraging signs. His curveball looked especially sharp, generating 11 whiffs on 15 swings. He kept the A’s scoreless in five of six innings and worked out of jams in multiple frames, showcasing his veteran grit.
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In the second inning, Flaherty dodged damage after allowing a single and a walk.
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In the fourth, déjà vu — another single and a walk, but he escaped unscathed.
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In the fifth, he got around a two-out single.
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In the sixth, he gave up a leadoff single, but Dillon Dingler came through with a cannon of a throw, catching the runner trying to swipe second.
And speaking of Dingler, give this man his flowers. Detroit’s young catcher is a defensive gem. With a 37.5% caught stealing rate — far above the MLB average of 22.6% — he continues to shine behind the plate. His leadership and arm strength were on full display in that sixth inning.
But great defense can’t make up for an offense that doesn’t show up. And the Tigers’ bats were eerily quiet.
Despite entering the game ranked third-best in the majors against left-handed pitchers (with a 124 wRC+), Detroit was absolutely shut down by Oakland’s southpaw Jacob Lopez. The 26-year-old lefty carved through the Tigers' lineup like a seasoned ace, tossing seven scoreless innings, surrendering just three hits and one walk while striking out six.
This wasn’t a fluke. It was a masterclass.
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Lopez threw 103 pitches, mixing speeds and hitting corners.
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He gave up hits to Wenceel Pérez, Jahmai Jones, and Riley Greene, but nothing came of them.
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The Tigers' best shot came in the seventh inning, when Pérez smoked a one-out triple. The crowd roared, finally sensing life.
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But then... whiff. Zach McKinstry struck out. Pop. Dillon Dingler flew out. Rally killed.
Detroit ended the night 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position — a stat that tells the whole story.
Lopez, whose ERA stood at 4.25 before this outing, trimmed it down to 3.56 after the dominant display. It was his 11th game this season and seventh start — and easily his best.
Just when Detroit hoped for a last-chance miracle in the ninth, Oakland dropped the hammer with flame-throwing closer Mason Miller.
Up stepped the heart of Detroit’s lineup: Greene, Torkelson, and Pérez. If there was ever a chance for a comeback, this was it. But Miller, who had been a bit shaky this season, found his groove.
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Greene? Struck out swinging.
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Torkelson? Same fate.
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Pérez? Grounded out to end it.
Game over. Shutout complete. Miller earned his 15th save of the season and handed the Tigers their 31st loss. Though his 4.85 ERA this year shows he's been hit-or-miss, Miller reminded fans why he was a 2024 All-Star and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. With a 2.49 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings last season, the raw talent is still clearly there.
📌 Key Takeaways:
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Jack Flaherty’s command issues continue to be a concern despite strikeout potential.
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Nick Kurtz's 438-foot blast proved to be the game-winner and a highlight reel shot.
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Jacob Lopez embarrassed Detroit’s righty-heavy lineup with seven shutout innings.
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Dillon Dingler remains a defensive asset, gunning down baserunners at an elite clip.
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Tigers’ offense failed to capitalize on their one big chance in the seventh.
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Mason Miller shut the door with authority in the ninth.
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