Tigers offense stumped by Phillies ace to snap 6-game win streak
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The Detroit Tigers' offense threatened but ultimately could not deliver the big hit against one of the best pitchers in baseball.
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Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Christopher Sánchez navigated through a hot Tigers lineup, leading the way in a 4-2 Tigers loss on Saturday, July 11, at Comerica Park. The Tigers (44-51) had won six straight games and nine of 10 entering Saturday.
Detroit's only big swing came from rookie catcher Eduardo Valencia, who hit his second home run in the first three games of his major league career with an opposite-field shot off Sánchez. But the rest of the offense had few answers for the National League All-Star.
Philadelphia scored four runs (three earned) off Detroit starter Casey Mize, providing more than enough breathing room for their left-handed ace.
Sánchez gave up two runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts across 7-plus innings. The Tigers developed multiple threats against the Philly lefty, but could not come up with the key knock for a big inning.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning to chase Sánchez, but could not use the opportunity for a late comeback. Spencer Torkelson hit into a double play to take the legs out of the potential rally, despite a run scoring.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 5½ games behind the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central, though they remain 2½ games back – with four teams ahead of them – in the AL wild-card hunt.
On the mound: Old friend causes issues
Phillies center fielder Derek Hill, the Tigers' first-round pick in 2014, and a player from 2020-22, continued to have an impact against his first team.
Hill manufactured Philadelphia's first run by reaching on a throwing error by third baseman Kevin McGonigle to lead off the second inning. Hill proceeded to steal second and third base against catcher Eduardo Valencia, who was making his first MLB start at catcher. Trea Turner then drove him in Hill with a sacrifice fly.
Hill drove in J.T. Realmuto with an RBI single during a three-run fourth inning, before stealing his third base. Realmuto drove in the first two runs of the inning on a double. Brandon Marsh drew a walk to kickstart the inning, followed by consecutive hits from Bryson Stott and Realmuto.
Mize had some command issues, throwing 62 of his 97 pitches for strikes. He only issued two walks but had to work from behind in multiple counts. He gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits, while striking out four batters with a slurve, a slider and two splitters. Philly made loud contact, with an average exit velocity of 92.3 mph against Mize, including over 100 mph on contact against his fastball.
Drew Anderson pitched 1⅓ innings, followed by a quick eighth inning by Tyler Holton and a clean ninth from Kenley Jansen out of the bullpen.
At the plate: Eduardo Valencia stays hot
Despite some ups and downs in the throwing game, Valencia did not let that carry over to his offense. Valencia drove in the Tigers' only run with his solo shot, and punched a single into right-center field off Sánchez in his next at-bat.
Detroit recorded nine hits off the Philly lefty, but stranded six runners on base while Sánchez was on the mound. The game started with a single from Matt Vierling, who finished with three singles off Sánchez, but he was immediately picked off in what turned into a 1-2-3 inning. The Tigers had multiple runners reach in three different innings against Sánchez in which no runs scored.
Sánchez attempted to come out for the eighth, but got chased by a Vierling walk and McGonigle opposite-field single. Reliever Jonathan Bowlan escaped the bases-loaded jam with Torkelson's double play and a Valencia groundout.
Detroit stranded seven runners and went 0-for-6 with a runner in scoring position.
Next up: Philadelphia freedom
The series between the Tigers and Phillies (53-43) wraps up Sunday (1:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet) at Comerica Park. Two of MLB's best – Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal and Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler – are the probable pitchers listed. It is the final game before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, which will be played Tuesday at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park.
Contact Jared Ramsey at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers offense stumped by Phillies ace to snap 6-game win streak