Tigers' Dominant Victory
Torres, Pérez, Greene power Tigers to 8-0 victory, breaking losing streak.
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The Detroit Tigers crushed the Tampa Bay Rays 8-0 on Tuesday night, snapping a brutal stretch of baseball that had seen them lose eight straight series — their longest such skid since 2019. Gleyber Torres hit a 433-foot leadoff home run in his first at-bat back from the injured list, and the Tigers never looked back. WZZM13 reported that Jack Flaherty struck out six over five innings to earn his first win since September 10, 2025.
The win also snapped another ugly streak. Detroit had not won back-to-back games since May 2 and 3, according to AP News. Combined with a 10-9 win the night before, the Tigers have now taken the series from Tampa Bay and are pushing for their first series sweep of the 2026 season.
Torres Returns From IL With a Bang
Gleyber Torres had been sidelined since May 4 with a left oblique strain. In his absence, the Tigers went 4-21 over a 25-game stretch, according to Field Level Media. On Tuesday, he wasted no time making up for lost time. His first pitch seen off the IL left the yard — a 433-foot shot to open the scoring.
Torres is playing on a $22.025 million one-year qualifying offer this season. "It's another year to prove myself, to get better and help the team," he said earlier this year when he accepted the deal, per MLB.com. His return gave an exhausted Detroit lineup an immediate jolt.
Pérez and Greene Pile On as Rays Ace Gets Shelled
Wenceel Pérez kept the offense rolling in the second inning with a 404-foot two-run homer. Matt Vierling added a triple and a double, driving in two runs total. Riley Greene capped the scoring with a solo shot to center in the seventh, per The Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Tampa Bay starter Steven Matz had a night to forget. He allowed five runs on six hits and lasted just 1⅔ innings. It was the first time the Rays were shut out at home in the 2026 season, according to 95.7 WDAE. Detroit's lineup punished every mistake Matz made early.
Flaherty Finally Ends a 14-Start Winless Drought
Jack Flaherty came into Tuesday 0-9 in his last 14 regular-season starts. He had not won a game in nearly nine months. In May, a frustrated Flaherty said he was "losing sleep every single day trying to figure out" his lack of command, per FanGraphs. On Tuesday, the answers finally came.
Flaherty went five innings, gave up five hits, and punched out six. He now stands at 1-7 on the 2026 season. It was not a dominant performance, but it was enough. The Tigers' bullpen held the Rays scoreless the rest of the way to seal the shutout, per King5.
A Rough 2026 Season and What Comes Next
The Tigers entered this series at 24-38 — the worst record in the American League — after a 6-20 month of May, according to Yardbarker. Key pitchers Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, and Casey Mize are all on the injured list. Manager A.J. Hinch said the seven walk-off losses this season have had a "pretty deep" emotional impact on the club.
Despite the feel-good win, national analysts say the Tigers are likely trade-deadline sellers. Detroit sits 11 games out of first in the AL Central and 6.5 games back from a Wild Card spot, per Athlon Sports. Skubal, if healthy, is seen as a top trade chip. Torres, as a rental on a one-year deal, is also drawing interest from contenders.
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