The Detroit Tigers fell to the Cincinnati Reds 11-1 on June 14, 2025, after a disastrous fifth inning. Jack Flaherty struggled as Tyler Stephenson's grand slam sealed the blowout.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a rough Saturday at the ballpark for the Detroit Tigers and their fans. What started as a competitive affair quickly spiraled into a lopsided 11-1 drubbing at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds. A disastrous fifth inning, highlighted by a back-breaking grand slam, buried the Tigers and handed them a humbling defeat, raising questions about a recent and troubling pitching trend.
The Tigers have allowed double-digit runs in each of their last two losses, a concerning trend for the AL leaders.
The game completely unraveled for the Tigers in the top of the fifth. With the score tied 1-1, starter Jack Flaherty lost all command. A series of walks and hits loaded the bases for Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who crushed a grand slam that silenced the Comerica Park crowd. The Reds weren't done, tacking on two more runs to complete a six-run frame. Flaherty's day was over, and so, effectively, was the game. He finished with his worst outing of the year, allowing a staggering seven earned runs, three homers, and five walks in just 4 2/3 innings, falling to 5-7 on the season.
For a brief moment, it looked like the Tigers were in for a classic back-and-forth contest. In the fourth inning, Wenceel Pérez delivered a clutch RBI single to score Detroit's only run, tying the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the offensive highlights. The lineup was stifled by Reds starter Brady Singer, who went six strong innings. The Tigers managed only four hits all afternoon, failing to mount any sort of comeback after Cincinnati's offensive explosion.
Let's take a deep breath. Yes, the loss was ugly, but the Tigers still boast an impressive 46-25 record and remain atop the American League standings. No new roster moves or injuries were announced, so the core of this successful team remains intact. However, the alarm bells are ringing softly on the pitching front. This is the second consecutive loss where the Tigers have surrendered 10 or more runs. For a team built on a foundation of strong starting pitching, these last two defeats represent a significant and worrying departure from the norm.
One blowout loss doesn't define a season, especially for a team that's still 46-25 and leading the American League. But two straight losses featuring double-digit runs allowed is a pattern that needs to be broken immediately. The Tigers will look to flush this ugly defeat and come back tomorrow with a performance that reminds everyone why they're the team to beat. The focus now shifts to the series finale, where the starting pitching must right the ship and give this potent lineup a chance to win.
