The Detroit Tigers let a late lead slip away in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, giving up six runs in a disastrous eighth inning to fall 9-4 to the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Detroit looked poised to sweep the day after an 11-2 win in Game 1, but the bullpen couldn’t hold a 4-3 lead in the nightcap. The Nationals sent seven consecutive batters to base in the eighth, turning the Tigers’ slim advantage into a lopsided defeat.
With the loss, the Tigers dropped to 54-33 on the season while the Nationals improved to 36-50. The two teams will face off Thursday in the series finale to decide the set.
Detroit reliever Tommy Kahnle entered the eighth with the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead but quickly surrendered two singles and a walk. Nathaniel Lowe then delivered the knockout blow, lining a bases-clearing triple down the right-field line to put Washington ahead. Josh Bell followed with an RBI double, ending Kahnle’s outing, before Paul DeJong and Jacob Young added insurance runs off Brenan Hanifee.
Tigers starter Jack Flaherty pitched five solid innings, giving up three runs while striking out nine, including the last seven Nationals he faced. Jahmai Jones drove in two runs for Detroit, and Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson each added an RBI.
Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore held the Tigers to two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Reliever Cole Henry earned his first major league win with a scoreless eighth.
Detroit and Washington will play the rubber match Thursday, with Tigers lefty Dietrich Enns (1-0, 0.00 ERA) set to face Nationals righty Jake Irvin (6-3, 4.73 ERA).
Detroit’s Collapse in Eighth Costs Them Doubleheader Sweep Against Nationals
