In a game that had all the makings of a bounce-back performance, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty delivered a gem that was ultimately undone by shoddy defense. Flaherty racked up 10 strikeouts and issued just one walk over five innings, but three defensive miscues led to four unearned runs as the Tigers were swept by the Boston Red Sox in a 4-0 loss at Comerica Park.

It marked Flaherty's first double-digit strikeout game since August 2024, a promising sign for a pitcher looking to regain his form. However, the Tigers' defense let him down at critical moments, turning what could have been a scoreless outing into a frustrating defeat.

The Tigers (18-20) have now dropped 10 of their last 16 games, falling two games below .500 for the first time since mid-April. The sweep at the hands of the Red Sox (16-21) stings even more given the circumstances—manager A.J. Hinch was serving a one-game suspension after pitcher Framber Valdez drilled Boston infielder Trevor Story in Tuesday's game, leaving bench coach George Lombard to manage the dugout.

Despite the loss, Flaherty's performance was a bright spot. He allowed four runs (only two earned) on three hits, with his 96-pitch effort marking the first time he completed four innings since April 15. For a pitcher who has struggled with consistency, this outing shows he's still capable of dominating when given support.

Next up, the Tigers head to Kansas City for a crucial American League Central showdown against the Royals, starting Friday at 7:40 p.m. on Detroit SportsNet. With their playoff hopes still alive, Detroit will need to clean up their defensive play and build on Flaherty's encouraging start to turn the tide.