Riley Greene hit two homers, but the Tigers fell to the Rays 14-8 on June 21. See how Jack Flaherty's rough start doomed Detroit in a Tampa Bay slugfest.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tale of two Tigers on Saturday in Tampa. Riley Greene played the hero, launching two massive home runs in a spectacular display of power. But unfortunately, the rest of the team couldn't keep pace, as a disastrous start from Jack Flaherty and a relentless Rays lineup led to a lopsided 14-8 defeat that snapped Detroit's recent momentum.
Riley Greene was a bright spot for Detroit, homering twice and raising his season total to 19.
If there's one silver lining from this offensive slugfest, it's the continued emergence of Riley Greene as a bona fide superstar. Greene was the Tigers' entire offense for much of the game, hitting two homers to bring his season total to an impressive 19. He's not just hitting for power; he leads the team in batting average and RBIs, cementing his role as the undisputed heart of this lineup. Every time he steps to the plate, you expect something special, and he delivered yet again, even in a lopsided loss.
While Greene was locked in, ace Jack Flaherty simply didn't have it. The Rays jumped on him early and often, tagging him for a staggering eight runs before he could even get deep into the game. It was the kind of outing that balloons an ERA and puts the bullpen in an impossible situation. The Tigers' relievers couldn't stop the bleeding, as Tampa Bay's hitters, with every starter getting a hit, continued to pour it on. For the Tigers to make a real push, they need more consistency from the top of their rotation, and this start was a significant step in the wrong direction.
Adding insult to injury was the performance of Rays slugger Yandy Díaz. After recently declaring his team 'the best,' Díaz put his money where his mouth was. He tormented Tigers pitching all night, going 3-for-5 with two home runs of his own. Alongside Matt Thaiss, who drove in four runs, Díaz led a Tampa Bay offensive assault that was simply overwhelming. It was a statement game for the Rays, and Díaz was the one holding the exclamation point.
This one stings. A 14-8 loss is never easy to swallow, especially when it halts a good run of form. The Tigers will need to have a short memory and flush this one quickly. The good news is that the offense, led by Greene, showed it can put up runs. The clear challenge remains starting pitching consistency. The team gets a chance to bounce back tomorrow and prove this blowout was a fluke, not the start of a trend. They'll need a stopper on the mound to get back in the win column.
