The Detroit Tigers collapse late, losing 8-4 to the Cincinnati Reds on June 16, 2025, as Elly De La Cruz shines. Closer Will Vest exits with an injury.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What started as a promising Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park ended in disaster. The Detroit Tigers let a series victory slip through their fingers, blowing a late lead in a painful 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. But the sting of the loss was amplified by a potentially more significant blow: closer Will Vest exited the game in the eighth inning with an apparent injury, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the team's bullpen.
Three errors, five unearned runs. That's the painful math that explains a game that got away.
Holding a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth, the Tigers seemed in control. That's when things unraveled. The bullpen, a source of strength for much of the season, faltered spectacularly. The Reds plated four runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, fueled by Detroit's defensive miscues. The Tigers committed three costly errors that led to five unearned runs, a recipe for defeat. Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz was the primary tormentor, finishing with three RBIs, three runs, and a back-breaking two-run homer in the ninth. A solo shot from Jahmai Jones was one of the few bright spots for the Detroit offense, but it was ultimately overshadowed by the team's late-game collapse.
The most worrying moment came in the midst of the eighth-inning implosion. Will Vest, who entered the game to protect the lead, was charged with the loss (dropping his record to 5-1) but didn't finish the inning. After uncorking a wild pitch, Vest was seen in discomfort and was promptly removed from the game. The team has yet to provide a detailed update, but any extended absence for the closer would be a massive blow. With the bullpen already navigating recent shuffles, losing its anchor is a scenario manager A.J. Hinch and the fans dread.
After a quiet Monday with no roster moves, the Tigers will have to shake off Sunday's disappointment quickly. They'll stay home to welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game set starting Tuesday. The good news is that they'll send one of their best to the mound to stop the bleeding. Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA) is slated to start the opener, hoping to provide a much-needed steadying presence. He'll face off against Pirates lefty Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36 ERA) in what feels like a crucial reset game for Detroit.
Monday serves as a day for the Tigers to lick their wounds and hope for good news on Will Vest. The sloppy play and bullpen breakdown from Sunday are a stark reminder of the team's thin margin for error. All eyes will now turn to Tuesday, where a strong outing from Casey Mize is not just hoped for, but desperately needed to wash away the bitter taste of this loss and get the homestand back on track.
