The Tigers lose 8-4 to the Reds on June 15, 2025, after a bullpen collapse. Closer Will Vest exits with a concerning injury, spoiling the series finale.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some losses just sting more than others. Sunday's 8-4 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds was one of those, a game that slipped through the Tigers' fingers due to self-inflicted wounds. But as the dust settled on a painful series finale, the final score became a secondary concern to the sight of closer Will Vest walking off the mound with a possible injury, leaving a giant question mark at the back end of the bullpen.
Three Tigers errors led to five unearned runs, a brutal statistic in a four-run loss.
Detroit carried a lead into the late innings, but the game unraveled in a disastrous eighth. Will Vest (5-1) was summoned into a high-leverage situation and immediately surrendered a game-tying single to the electric Elly De La Cruz. Things went from bad to worse when a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score, a play on which Vest appeared to injure himself. He exited the game, the bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, and the Reds piled on. It was a brutal sequence that single-handedly flipped the outcome.
The bullpen collapse was the final nail, but the coffin was built by shoddy defense. A staggering five of the Reds' eight runs were unearned, a direct result of three Detroit errors. Young pitcher Brant Hurter committed a costly error on a pickoff attempt, and even Javier Báez added a miscue. You simply cannot give a potent offense like Cincinnati's extra outs and expect to win. It was a frustrating display that wasted an early home run from Jahmai Jones.
While Hurter's error was a key moment, his presence on the mound is a testament to the Tigers' top-heavy farm system, which continues to produce major league talent. He joins a recent graduating class that includes Jackson Jobe, Trey Sweeney, and Brenan Hanifee. The crown jewel of that class so far has been Dillon Dingler, who has quickly established himself as one of the American League's better catchers. While the system's depth is a concern, the high-end talent is making a tangible impact on the big-league club.
The Tigers will try to wash the bad taste of this loss out of their mouths on Tuesday when they open a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Having ace-in-the-making Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA) on the mound is a huge plus. But all eyes will be on the injury report. The team's immediate future, and the stability of its bullpen, hinges on the diagnosis for Will Vest. A bad loss is one thing; losing your closer for an extended period is another thing entirely.
