The Detroit Tigers walked off the Citi Field diamond on Wednesday afternoon with another heartbreaker, falling 3-2 to the New York Mets in 10 innings. The loss dropped Detroit to 19-24, deepening concerns as their season slides toward a critical juncture.

For much of the game, the Tigers seemed poised to turn things around. They jumped out to an early lead, got a gem from Framber Valdez on the mound, and carried a one-run advantage into the seventh inning. But baseball can be a cruel game, and Detroit learned that lesson again in Queens.

Riley Greene continued his red-hot stretch with three hits, and the Tigers plated two runs in the first inning, finally showing signs of life after weeks of offensive struggles. But the bats went quiet after that. Detroit managed just six hits over the final nine frames and couldn't deliver a timely knock when it mattered most.

Valdez, making his return from suspension, turned in what might be the Tigers' best start of the season. The veteran left-hander worked six-plus innings with efficiency and aggression, keeping the Mets off balance throughout the afternoon. He entered the seventh inning protecting a 2-1 lead, but trouble started with a leadoff walk to the No. 9 hitter. A bloop single followed, and suddenly the Mets had life.

After Valdez exited, Kyle Finnegan came on to protect the lead. But another softly hit single allowed the tying run to score, and the momentum shifted for good. Detroit couldn't muster any offense in extra innings, and in the bottom of the 10th, the Mets delivered the walk-off hit that sent the Tigers to yet another painful loss.

The lineup has become one of the biggest concerns during this skid. Injuries to key players like Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter have hurt, but the struggles go deeper than who's on the injured list. Several young players expected to form the core of Detroit's future have failed to produce consistently, and the offense that looked promising in the opening frame quickly reverted to the same pattern that has haunted the club for weeks.

For Tigers fans, this one stings. A strong pitching performance wasted, an early lead squandered, and another game that slipped through their fingers. As the losses pile up, the margin for error grows thinner by the day.