The Detroit Tigers found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided contest Tuesday night, as the New York Mets delivered a powerful offensive display en route to a 12-5 victory at Comerica Park. This defeat, the second straight for Detroit in the three-game series, underscored both the Mets’ surging bats and the Tigers’ recent pitching woes. With the loss, the Tigers’ record slipped to 80-60, though they still maintain a comfortable nine-game lead in the American League Central with just 22 games left in the regular season.
Right from the opening pitch, the Mets set the tone for what would be a long night for Tigers pitching. Detroit starter Sawyer Gipson-Long, freshly recalled from Triple-A Toledo, struggled to find his rhythm. After falling behind 3-0 to Pete Alonso in the first inning, Gipson-Long grooved a 92 mph fastball that Alonso hammered over the center field wall for a 435-foot solo home run. That early blast gave New York a 1-0 lead and signaled the beginning of a rough outing for the Tigers’ right-hander.
Gipson-Long’s troubles didn’t end there. The Mets broke the game open in the fourth inning, plating five runs to seize a 6-2 advantage. After issuing a pair of walks, Gipson-Long faced Luis Torrens with two outs and two strikes. Torrens capitalized, launching a 93 mph fastball off the right-field foul pole for a three-run homer, capping the inning’s damage. Gipson-Long finished his night after four innings, having allowed six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three. He threw 70 pitches and now owns a 5.59 ERA in seven big-league games this season, three of them starts.
Despite the rough night, the Tigers have plans for Gipson-Long to pitch again soon, with his next scheduled appearance coming in the upcoming series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium from September 9 to 11. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said, "We’re going to need Sawyer to bounce back. We still believe in his stuff, and he’ll get another shot in New York."
After Gipson-Long’s departure, things didn’t get any easier for Detroit. Chris Paddack, a midseason acquisition from the Minnesota Twins, was shifted from the starting rotation to the bullpen in hopes of finding more consistency. The move, however, failed to produce the desired results. Paddack was tagged for six runs on eight hits in just 1⅓ innings, with the Mets teeing off for a pair of home runs in a disastrous seventh inning. Juan Soto crushed a middle-middle changeup for an 8-2 lead, and Alonso followed with his second homer of the night, this one off a middle-down changeup, stretching the margin to 9-2. By the time Francisco Lindor lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 12-2, the game was all but out of reach.
"It’s tough," Paddack admitted after the game. "I’m trying to adjust to the new role, but tonight I just didn’t execute. The Mets made me pay for every mistake." Since joining the Tigers at the trade deadline, Paddack has struggled, posting a 6.89 ERA in seven games (six starts) and giving up significant runs in key spots. Detroit sent 19-year-old switch-hitting catcher Enrique Jimenez to Minnesota in the deal, a move that’s drawn scrutiny as Paddack continues to search for answers.
The Mets, meanwhile, have been on a tear offensively in this series, scoring a combined 22 runs in the first two games. Tuesday’s win was highlighted by Pete Alonso’s two home runs—bringing his season tally to 42—and Juan Soto’s solo shot, as well as a three-run blast by Luis Torrens. Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil each chipped in with three hits, while Mark Vientos doubled on a misplayed fly ball in the outfield that further extended the Mets’ rally in the seventh.
On the mound, Mets rookie Nolan McLean continued his impressive start to his MLB career. Entering the game with a sparkling 0.89 ERA in three prior starts, the 24-year-old right-hander allowed two runs in the first inning but quickly settled in. Over six innings, McLean yielded just three hits and three walks while striking out seven Tigers hitters on 90 pitches. Detroit’s early runs came courtesy of RBI singles from Spencer Torkelson and Wenceel Pérez, both set up by back-to-back two-out walks in the opening frame. But from there, McLean’s mix of a lively sinker and a sweeping breaking ball kept Tigers hitters off balance all night.
"He’s got electric stuff," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of McLean. "Even when he got in trouble early, he didn’t panic. That’s what you want to see from a young pitcher." McLean’s win marked his fourth to begin his major league career, adding to the buzz surrounding the Mets’ young pitching core.
Detroit’s offense, meanwhile, was largely stifled after the first inning, failing to mount a significant threat until the ninth. With the game out of hand, Tigers backup catcher Jake Rogers took the mound for the ninth inning, a move that underscored just how depleted Detroit’s bullpen had become. The Tigers managed to scratch across three runs in the bottom of the ninth against Mets reliever Jimmy Herget, thanks to RBI doubles from Justyn-Henry Malloy and Wenceel Pérez, followed by an RBI single from Zach McKinstry. Still, the late rally was far too little, too late.
Despite the recent skid—Detroit has now dropped seven of its last nine games—the Tigers remain in a strong position atop the AL Central, holding a nine-game cushion over the Kansas City Royals. With 22 games remaining, the focus will shift to shoring up the pitching staff and regaining momentum as the postseason approaches. The club’s upcoming series against the Yankees looms large, with manager Hinch emphasizing the need for sharper performances on the mound.
For the Mets, the offensive explosion has them eyeing a potential sweep. The series finale is set for Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. at Comerica Park. Clay Holmes, who enters with an 11-6 record, 3.60 ERA, and 111 strikeouts in 142⅓ innings, will take the ball for New York. The Tigers will counter with Casey Mize, sporting a 12-5 record and a 3.95 ERA with 107 strikeouts this season. Mets fans are wondering: can their team keep the bats hot and complete the sweep?
As the regular season winds down, both clubs have plenty to play for—Detroit looking to lock down the division, and New York hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive with another statement win. The Tigers, battered but not beaten, will have to regroup quickly if they want to stop the Mets’ momentum and avoid a sweep at home.
