On a fine Friday evening, the Tigers had two things to be grateful for: it was, indeed, Friday, and they were no longer playing the Mets. The White Sox were up for the weekend series, which would ideally be a good series for Detroit ahead of their meeting with the Yankees next week. Of course, as Shakespeare famously said, “the course of true love never did run smooth,” and the same is true of a winning baseball season. Jack Flaherty was on the mound for the Tigers, up against Shane Smith for the White Sox.

Flaherty started giving up hits fairly early in the game, though his first pitch strikes remained on point. With two outs in the first, he gave up a double to Curtis Mead. Colson Montgomery then singled to bring Mead home and put the White Sox on the board first. In the home half, the Tigers’ bats were silent as they went 1-2-3.

The second proved to be a bit better for Flaherty as he got three outs in a row. The Tigers managed to get their first baserunner in the bottom of the inning with a two-out single from Wenceel Perez, but he was ultimately left stranded.

Dominic Fletcher doubled to start the third. Then, with one out, Kyle Teel singled to bring Fletcher home. Mead then hit into a double play to end the inning with at least only minimal damage done. In the home half, the Tigers finally got something going. Dillon Dingler was hit by a pitch, but right behind him, Parker Meadows homered, brining two runs in. Three outs followed, but the game was tied 2-2.

Colson Montgomery (who absolutely sounds like someone who belongs to a country club) walked to start the fourth. He advanced to second on a sac bunt by Chase Meidroth. One more out later, Will Robertson singled to bring Montgomery home. At the end of the inning, the Sox were up 3-2. The bottom of the inning was a bit of a wild ride. Wenceel Perez got a two-out walk, then Zach McKinstry doubled. Then, on a wild pitch, as Perez aimed to come home, there was an incredible freaky moment where Smith and catcher Teel both attempted to rally for a pop-up and collided with each other, head-to-head. They were both knocked down, and if semi-concussed people see little cartoon birds, both of them were definitely having brief meetings with Tweety. The Tigers did score two runs amid the mishap, putting them in the lead.

History repeated itself in the fifth with a leadoff double by Fletcher. Kyle Teel then got a one-out walk. Flaherty completely lost control of a pitch, hitting Mead, to load the bases. That was it for Flaherty, with a final line of 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Pretty standard Jack outing, honestly. Bailey Horn replaced him, and if there are any other fans of the British comedy series Taskmaster out there, please tell me if you also say “Little Bailey Horn” in your head every time he’s announced. No? Just me? Okay, cool. Colson Montgomery hit into a force out, but it got another run in (added to Flaherty’s tally above). Horn did get the final out of the inning, though, limiting the potential damage he inherited. In the home half, Parker Meadows got a leadoff walk, but was quickly eliminated in a double play off the bat of Dillon Dingler. A Gleyber Torres lineout wrapped up the trifecta.

Andrew Benintendi homered to start the sixth, and I guess now would be a good time to go edit the part of the opening paragraph where I boldly assumed this would be an easy series for the Tigers. With one out in the inning, AJ Hinch dipped into the pullpen again, bringing out Keider Montero. Montero got the next two outs, but he’d better get a gift basket sent to Wenceel Perez for collecting the final out of the inning, mere inches from going over the wall. Bailey Horn can call the same gift basket guys and send one to Parker Meadows for the first out of the inning.

Shane Smith’s day was done after five innings, making way for Tyler Gilbert. Riley Greene got a one-out single, but the Tigers didn’t manage to get him home.

In the seventh, Edgar Quero kicked things off with a single, but was then eliminated by a force out off the bat of Kyle Teel. Teel was then eliminated by a force out off the bat of Curtis Mead. Colson Montgomery then homered, bringing two runs in. Chase Meidroth then singled. Meidroth was then caught stealing to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning with two outs, a pinch-hitting Justyn-Henry Malloy walked, then Colt Keith singled. Dan Altavilla replaced Gilbert and got the final out of the inning.

The Tigers managed to get three outs in a row in the top of the eighth. Jahmai Jones got the home half going with a double. Then, with one out, Spencer Torkelson doubled, bringing Jones home. Wenceel Perez walked, and that was it for Altavilla, replaced by Jordan Leasure. The Tigers ended up having to settle for just the one run.

In the top of the ninth, Edgar Quero got a one-out walk. With two outs, Mead singled, proving himself to be something of a menace in this game. That was it for Montero, replaced by Tyler Holton. Holton got the final out of the inning, meaning the Tigers were down to the bottom of the ninth and their last chance to make something happen. Unfortunately for those craving a bold comeback, the Tigers went down in order to end the game without a rallying cry.

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