DETROIT (7-10-26) — After battling through five tightly contested innings, the Detroit Tigers unleashed an offensive barrage Friday night, scoring eight runs over the sixth and seventh innings to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
The victory was Detroit’s sixth consecutive win and moved the Tigers to within 4½ games of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.
Jack Flaherty (#9) delivered one of his strongest outings of the season, earning his third victory after limiting Philadelphia to just two hits and two earned runs over six innings. The veteran right-hander struck out six while walking three, throwing 54 of his 86 pitches for strikes.
Philadelphia grabbed an early lead in the third inning when Derek Hill (#9) connected on a 427-foot solo home run to center field. Detroit answered immediately in the bottom half as rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle (#7) blasted a 414-foot, two-run homer to center, scoring Jake Rogers (#34) and giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
The Phillies tied the game in the fourth when Hill (#9) delivered an RBI single, but that would be the final offensive push against Flaherty.
Detroit broke the game open in the sixth.
After Riley Greene (#31) reached and Matt Vierling (#8) walked as a pinch hitter, rookie designated hitter Eduardo Valencia (#32) continued his impressive start by lining an RBI single to left, putting Detroit back in front 3-2.
Moments later, Zack McKinstry (#39) laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in Vierling scoring while Phillies reliever Tim Mayza (#37) committed a throwing error, allowing McKinstry to reach safely and Valencia to advance.
James Outman (#43) followed with a two-run triple to center field, scoring Valencia and McKinstry before later crossing the plate on a Mayza balk, capping a five-run inning that gave Detroit a commanding 7-2 lead.
The Tigers kept the pressure on in the seventh.
Colt Keith (#33) crushed a 415-foot solo home run to right-center before Spencer Torkelson (#20) launched a two-run shot 389 feet to left-center after Greene reached base, extending the lead to 10-2.
Detroit finished with eight hits but made them count, collecting three home runs and going 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position while leaving just four runners on base.
Greene reached base four times, finishing 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored. Valencia continued his hot start, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Outman (#43) added a triple and two RBIs. McGonigle and Torkelson each drove in two runs as the Tigers’ lineup produced nine RBIs.
The bullpen preserved the victory as Jacob Waguespack (#58), Drew Sommers (#51), and Beau Brieske (#4) combined for three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while closing out the Phillies.
Detroit will look to extend its winning streak to seven games Saturday as the Tigers continue their three-game weekend series against Philadelphia at Comerica Park.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
DETROIT, MI (7-10-26) — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 Friday night at Comerica Park, extending their winning streak to six games. Detroit broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning before adding three more in the seventh to capture the opener of the three-game series.
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