11 pitches torch Detroit Tigers in 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay Rays in series finale
A.J. Hinch's club fell into an early hole Wednesday, July 9, and unlike the day prior, when they scored four unanswered to come back and win, their comeback effort was for naught.
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The Tigers briefly took the lead in the fourth, but then surrendered it back to the Rays in the sixth to finish with a 7-3 loss in the three-game series' finale.
The loss snapped a season-high five-game win streak for the Tigers (59-35).
Detroit Tigers pitcher Chase Lee (53) pitches in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
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Rough relief for Chase Lee
The Tigers had a a 3-2 lead with two outs in the sixth when rookie sidearmer Chase Lee entered in relief with two runners on.
It did not go as planned.
Ha-Seong Kim ripped a double deep to center, Taylor Walls followed with an RBI single to left, Danny Jansen added a double off the left-field wall and Yandy Diaz ripped an RBI single up the middle.
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Three of the four balls left the bat at better than 98 mph, and in the span of just 11 pitches, a one-run Tigers lead turned into a 6-3 deficit.
It only got worse when Lee came back out to open the seventh; he allowed a 398-foot bomb to left by Junior Caminero, hit at 104.8 mph. That was the end for Lee, who entered with an ERA of 2.05 ERA and left with it at 3.19 after allowing five of six batters to reach and giving up four runs (three earned).
Left-hander Dietrich Enns relieved Lee and got through the final three innings unscathed.
Early rally not enough
Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry (39) hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
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The Tigers seemingly had the momentum before the sudden unraveling, having worked their way back from a 2-0 deficit with a rally of their own in the fourth inning.
Gleyber Torres doubled off the wall to start the frame (tying his career-best on-base streak at 22 games) before Wenceel Pérez reached on an infield single. Two batters later, Spencer Torkelson knocked Torres in with a 102.4 mph single to left field.
Pérez, meanwhile, showed the Tigers' attention to baserunning, sprinting safely to third right in front of left fielder Jake Mangum.
Next up was a game-tying double by newly minted All-Star Zach McKinstry. The hit to right-center looked like a single but McKinstry was going full tilt and slid safely into second as Torkelson went first-to-third. That allowed Parker Meadows' grounder to first to score Torkelson for a one-run lead.
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But that was all the Tigers had, failing to capitalize on several other scoring chances.
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First up, McKinstry hit his second double of the game in the sixth with two outs, but Matt Vierling popped out to second.
There was an even more promising rally in the seventh when Jake Rogers worked a walk and Colt Keith ripped a single with one out. After Torres fouled out, Jahmai Jones (pinch-hitting for Pérez) walked to load the bases for Riley Greene, 2-for-28 since the end of his two-homer game on July 2.
It became 2-for-29 as Greene swung through a down-and-away sweeper for strike 3.
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Reese Olson grinds through five
Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson (45) pitches in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The Rays jumped on starter Reese Olson early, getting runners on the corners in the first early. Torkelson then fielded a chopper to first; instead of trying for a 3-6-3 double play, he pumped home, then opted to settle for stepping on first for the second out of the inning.
Mangum, however, followed with an RBI single to left to put the Rays up, 2-0.
From there, however, Olson worked his way around trouble. Kim led off the second with a single before Olson retired the next three batters. In the third, Jonathan Aranda led off with a single, but Olson got out of the inning — this time Torkelson started a 3-6 double play — in just seven pitches.
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After a single with one out in the fourth by Chandler Simpson, Olson got consecutive flyouts to keep the Tigers close. In his final inning, the 25-year-old walked a pair, prompting a mound visit from catcher Jake Rogers. Two pitches later, Olson induced a 6-4-3 double play from Caminero.
Olson left after five innings in line for the win after allowing six hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Email Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers series sweep hopes sunk by 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay Rays
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