Reds 9, Tigers 2: Bad Jack strikes again

Apr 25, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Jack Flaherty had zero command of anything in this one and was mauled for six runs in two innings of work. Even accounting for Flaherty’s usual rollercoaster nature, this is two in a row where he really couldn’t put the fastball remotely where he wanted it with any consistency.

Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson homered early on, but the Tigers offense couldn’t put together a rally as they dropped their second in a row to the Reds in Cincinnati on Saturday. This one started off auspiciously and in classic Great American Ballpark fashion, as Kevin McGonigle got a 1-0 sinker away from Brady Singer, and hammered it into the seats for his second major league home run. Perhaps he felt the pressure to maintain his lead in Baseball Reference’s WAR metric.

Good to see his right hand was alright after getting hit last night. View Link Matt Vierling grounded out, but Colt Keith slapped a single up the middle and Riley Greene followed with an oppo roller to the left side that went for a hit as well. Dillon Dingler grounded one in the hole and the Reds could only get the out at second.

So it was first and third with two outs to Kerry Carpenter. Singer fell behind in the count but eventually Carpenter flew out to end the inning, stranding two. Jack Flaherty started his day by striking out TJ Friedl, but he quickly fell behind Matt McLain and walked him and did the same with Elly De La Cruz.