Nationals Fall Behind Early, Tigers Power Their Way to 9-2 Victory
The Washington Nationals could not generate enough offense Monday night as the Detroit Tigers used three home runs and strong pitching to cruise to a 9-2 victory at Comerica Park. Detroit scored twice in the first inning, added two more in the fourth and erupted for five runs in the fifth to build a commanding 9-0 advantage before Washington finally broke through in the eighth. The Nationals managed only five hits and struck out 11 times while falling to 73-84 on the season. Detroit improved to 74-83 with the victory.
The loss also spoiled the long-awaited return of left-hander DJ Herz, who made his first Major League appearance since 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025. Herz showed some encouraging signs and struck out four over four innings, but Detroit scored four runs on five hits and two walks against him. River Ryan, meanwhile, made his Tigers debut and worked three scoreless innings before Keider Montero followed with four scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
Tigers Strike Immediately Against Herz
Herz’s return began with trouble in the bottom of the first inning. Gleyber Torres drew a four-pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Hao-Yu Lee drove him home with an RBI ground-rule double. Lee later scored when James Wood committed an error in left field on Eduardo Valencia’s single, putting Washington into an immediate 2-0 deficit.
Herz recovered and kept Detroit off the scoreboard in the second and third innings, giving Washington an opportunity to get back into the game. The Nationals could not take advantage because Ryan was sharp in his Detroit debut. Washington managed two hits and one walk against Ryan over three scoreless innings while striking out three times.
Ryan’s appearance was notable beyond Monday’s game. Detroit acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers as one of the prospects in the Tarik Skubal trade, and this marked his first Major League appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery after pitching four games for Los Angeles in 2024. His first outing in a Tigers uniform lasted only three innings, but he gave Detroit exactly what it needed.
Báez Doubles Detroit’s Lead
Herz encountered more trouble in the fourth. Dillon Dingler opened the inning with a walk, and Herz retired Spencer Torkelson before facing Javier Báez. Báez jumped on a changeup and drove it over the left-field wall for a two-run home run, extending Detroit’s lead to 4-0.
It was Báez’s third home run of the season, and the swing represented the first major blow of what would become a three-homer night for Detroit. Herz eventually escaped the inning without further damage, completing his first Major League start in nearly two years with four runs allowed over four innings. He threw 79 pitches, 48 for strikes, while striking out four.
The final pitching line does not tell the entire story of Herz’s return. Simply getting back onto a Major League mound represented an important step after the lengthy rehabilitation process associated with Tommy John surgery. Nationals manager Blake Butera emphasized after the game that Herz can use the outing as part of the process of continuing his career at the Major League level.
Detroit Erupts for Five in the Fifth
Washington’s chances of mounting a comeback essentially disappeared in the fifth inning. Luis Perales replaced Herz, but Detroit immediately turned the game into a rout. Riley Greene drew a one-out walk and Valencia doubled, placing runners at second and third for Ben Malgeri.
Malgeri crushed a splitter over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, extending Detroit’s advantage to 7-0. Dingler then doubled before Torkelson followed with another two-run shot to left. In a matter of minutes, a four-run game had become a 9-0 deficit for Washington.
The fifth inning highlighted Detroit’s offensive depth. Malgeri finished 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs, while Torkelson drove in two. Lee went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored, while Valencia collected three hits, including two doubles. Dingler added two hits and scored twice.
Detroit finished with 12 hits, including seven for extra bases. Lee had two doubles, Valencia had two, and Malgeri and Dingler each added another before accounting for three home runs as a team. The Tigers went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position and received production throughout the middle and lower portions of their lineup.
Nationals’ Offense Goes Quiet
While Detroit continued adding runs, Washington could not solve the Tigers’ pitching staff. Montero replaced Ryan to begin the fourth and was outstanding, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out five over four scoreless innings. He earned the victory and improved to 10-9.
Washington did not score during the first seven innings and produced only five hits in the game. Jacob Young was the only Nationals starter with multiple hits, going 2-for-3, while Wood and Dylan Crews each had one hit. The Nationals finished 5-for-32 at the plate and drew only two walks.
Strikeouts were another major problem. Washington struck out 11 times, with Wood striking out three times and CJ Abrams and Brady House each going down twice. Wood finished 1-for-4, Abrams went 0-for-3 and House finished 0-for-4.
Detroit’s combination of Ryan and Montero was especially effective. The two pitchers combined for seven scoreless innings while surrendering just three hits and two walks. By the time Washington finally got into the Detroit bullpen’s softer underbelly, the Nationals were already facing a nine-run deficit.
Morales Breaks Up the Shutout
Washington finally produced some offense in the eighth. Wood singled with two outs against Drew Sommers, bringing Yohandy Morales to the plate as a pinch hitter for Abimelec Ortiz. Morales delivered Washington’s biggest swing of the night, launching a two-run home run that cut Detroit’s lead to 9-2.
The home run continued an encouraging stretch for Morales, who finished the night batting .306 with a .973 OPS according to MLB’s postgame box score. His ability to provide some late offense was one of the few positives Washington could take from an otherwise difficult night.
There would be no late rally. Beau Brieske worked a scoreless ninth inning for Detroit, striking out one and retiring House to finish the game. Detroit’s pitching staff held Washington to two runs, five hits and two walks over nine innings.
Herz’s Return Provides a Bigger-Picture Positive
The final score was ugly for Washington, but Herz’s return carries significance beyond one September game. He had not pitched in the majors since 2024 and underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025. Returning to a Major League rotation after that lengthy recovery gives Washington another young pitcher to evaluate heading toward 2027.
Herz allowed five hits and four runs across four innings while walking two and striking out four. Detroit certainly made him pay for mistakes, particularly on Báez’s two-run homer, but Herz also worked through scoreless second and third innings after the Tigers immediately scored twice against him in the first.
The Nationals have reached a stage of the season where development and evaluation carry considerable importance. Herz getting healthy enough to pitch in the majors again gives the organization another piece to examine during the final week. His next opportunities will be about building innings, regaining command and determining where he fits into Washington’s future rotation plans.
Detroit’s Power Makes the Difference
Detroit’s three home runs provided seven of its nine runs. Báez started the power display with his two-run shot in the fourth, Malgeri delivered the biggest blow with his three-run homer in the fifth and Torkelson followed with a two-run blast later in the same inning.
The Tigers did not rely solely on home runs, either. Lee and Valencia combined for six hits, and Detroit consistently created traffic on the bases before its biggest swings. The Tigers finished with 12 hits compared with Washington’s five and did not commit an error, while the Nationals committed one.
The contrast was particularly clear in the middle innings. Detroit entered the bottom of the fourth leading only 2-0, but the Tigers scored seven runs across the next two innings. Washington never recovered.
Nationals Drop Second Straight
The defeat was Washington’s second consecutive loss and dropped the Nationals to 73-84. Detroit, which had officially been eliminated from American League postseason contention one day earlier, improved to 74-83 and earned just its second victory in six games.
Washington’s offensive performance was particularly disappointing after the Nationals had shown flashes of production during the previous portion of their schedule. The Nationals never forced Detroit to play from behind and went seven consecutive innings without scoring. Once the Tigers’ five-run fifth pushed the margin to nine, the game was effectively out of reach.
The game lasted two hours and 19 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 21,121 at Comerica Park. Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
What’s Next
The Nationals and Tigers continue their three-game series Tuesday night in Detroit. Washington is scheduled to send left-hander Jackson Kent to the mound, while Detroit is scheduled to counter with right-hander Drew Anderson.
For Washington, the objective will be finding considerably more offense after Monday’s five-hit performance. The Nationals also need to prevent another early deficit from turning into a runaway game, particularly after Detroit demonstrated how quickly its lineup can create separation with extra-base power.
MSB Take
There was not much mystery surrounding this loss. Detroit hit the ball harder, generated considerably more offense and received seven scoreless innings from River Ryan and Keider Montero before Washington finally broke through. When the Tigers received opportunities with runners on base, they capitalized with three home runs that turned a relatively close game into a 9-0 blowout.
The most important development for Washington was Herz returning to a Major League mound. Four runs in four innings was not the result he wanted, but after Tommy John surgery and nearly two years between Major League appearances, simply reaching this point represents an important milestone. Washington can now evaluate Herz during actual Major League competition rather than projecting from rehabilitation work and minor league appearances.
Morales also deserves attention. His pinch-hit two-run homer prevented the shutout and continued an encouraging offensive showing at the Major League level. With the Nationals playing out the final games of the season, evaluating players such as Morales and determining which young pieces belong in the 2027 plans will be nearly as important as the final scores.
Monday’s final score, however, was decisive. Washington was outhit 12-5, struck out 11 times and trailed from the first inning through the final out. The Nationals will need a much sharper performance Tuesday if they hope to even the series in Detroit.
