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The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 10-4 loss to the Rangers on Thursday:
On a night when the Tigers didn't pitch well at all, and they didn't hit particularly well, either — they stranded a combined seven runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings — they sure did flash some leather.
The Tigers aren't the worst team in baseball in defensive runs saved anymore (like they were earlier in the season), but they still aren't great, with a negative-7 mark entering play Thursday night. Still, there's been progress, and it was fully on display to keep them in the series opener against the Rangers.
It started with right fielder Kerry Carpenter making a fine running catch in the first inning, and eventually most of the Tigers got in on glove story, including second baseman Hao-Yu Lee, third baseman Kevin McGonigle and left fielder Riley Greene. (To say nothing of Dillon Dingler logging two more successful challenges.)
The highlight of all the highlights came from Zach McKinstry at shortstop.
Add it all up and, voila, the Tigers only lost by six ... to fall back to 12 games under .500 (38-50).
The Tigers' franchise-record streak of 35 consecutive games with a starting pitcher allowing three earned runs or fewer came to an end, and it's not a total surprise that it was snapped against Framber Valdez. The Tigers' prized free agent of the winter continues his inconsistent season, and was hit around for five runs in five innings.
And there were troubling signs early, when he got out of the first inning scoreless despite a couple of scorching balls, with 100-plus-mph exit velocities.
More troubling: Valdez struck out just one of the 26 batters he faced. He now is averaging under 7.00 strikeouts per nine innings this season, easily the lowest mark of his career. He struck out 8.8 per nine innings in 2025, before signing that three-year, $115-million contract with the Tigers.
Valdez also has allowed four earned runs or more in seven starts this season; he did that 10 times all of 2025.
So, what's the deal? Colleague Chris McCosky recently went searching for a theory.
(Season total in parentheses)
▶ Colt Keith (10) — On a night Nathan Eovaldi looked like he had no-hit stuff, Keith said nah when he hit his sixth homer of the season. Interestingly, five of them have come in the state of Texas. His reward? Being pinch-hit for the next time up, by Matt Vierling, who was 0-for-3 and now has a .579.
▶ Hao-Yu Lee (10) — He swings hard every time, just in case he makes contact, as he did on his two-run homer. (Of course, sometimes he doesn't connect, like on his strikeouts with runners on the next two times up.)
▶ Kevin McGonigle (25) — One of many topics on this week's Tigers Today podcast, featuring my friend, the Detroit historian and Tiger Stadium lover Dan Austin.
▶ Australia World Cup fans and their honorary club member, Detroit SportsNet's Daniella Bruce (even if she declined to drink a beer out of a shoe ... we think).
▶ Game 89: Tigers at Rangers, 4:05 Saturday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1
ICYMI: Yesterday's Tigers recap
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 88: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't
Continue reading...
One thing I loved
On a night when the Tigers didn't pitch well at all, and they didn't hit particularly well, either — they stranded a combined seven runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings — they sure did flash some leather.
The Tigers aren't the worst team in baseball in defensive runs saved anymore (like they were earlier in the season), but they still aren't great, with a negative-7 mark entering play Thursday night. Still, there's been progress, and it was fully on display to keep them in the series opener against the Rangers.
It started with right fielder Kerry Carpenter making a fine running catch in the first inning, and eventually most of the Tigers got in on glove story, including second baseman Hao-Yu Lee, third baseman Kevin McGonigle and left fielder Riley Greene. (To say nothing of Dillon Dingler logging two more successful challenges.)
The highlight of all the highlights came from Zach McKinstry at shortstop.
Add it all up and, voila, the Tigers only lost by six ... to fall back to 12 games under .500 (38-50).
One thing I didn't
The Tigers' franchise-record streak of 35 consecutive games with a starting pitcher allowing three earned runs or fewer came to an end, and it's not a total surprise that it was snapped against Framber Valdez. The Tigers' prized free agent of the winter continues his inconsistent season, and was hit around for five runs in five innings.
And there were troubling signs early, when he got out of the first inning scoreless despite a couple of scorching balls, with 100-plus-mph exit velocities.
More troubling: Valdez struck out just one of the 26 batters he faced. He now is averaging under 7.00 strikeouts per nine innings this season, easily the lowest mark of his career. He struck out 8.8 per nine innings in 2025, before signing that three-year, $115-million contract with the Tigers.
Valdez also has allowed four earned runs or more in seven starts this season; he did that 10 times all of 2025.
So, what's the deal? Colleague Chris McCosky recently went searching for a theory.
Three stars
(Season total in parentheses)
▶ Colt Keith (10) — On a night Nathan Eovaldi looked like he had no-hit stuff, Keith said nah when he hit his sixth homer of the season. Interestingly, five of them have come in the state of Texas. His reward? Being pinch-hit for the next time up, by Matt Vierling, who was 0-for-3 and now has a .579.
▶ Hao-Yu Lee (10) — He swings hard every time, just in case he makes contact, as he did on his two-run homer. (Of course, sometimes he doesn't connect, like on his strikeouts with runners on the next two times up.)
▶ Kevin McGonigle (25) — One of many topics on this week's Tigers Today podcast, featuring my friend, the Detroit historian and Tiger Stadium lover Dan Austin.
Player of the game
▶ Australia World Cup fans and their honorary club member, Detroit SportsNet's Daniella Bruce (even if she declined to drink a beer out of a shoe ... we think).
Come on Aussie!
A souvenir you don't have to return️ pic.twitter.com/xM6zBYcsJa
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 3, 2026
Next Tigers game
▶ Game 89: Tigers at Rangers, 4:05 Saturday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1
ICYMI: Yesterday's Tigers recap
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 88: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't
Continue reading...
