[jksander]

August 11, 2025: Ryan Weber (6-7, 3.89 ERA, 111.0 IP, 68 K’s, 1.23 WHIP) pitched against Detroit’s Reese Olson (6-6, 3.86 ERA, 123.2 IP, 107 K’s, 1.41 WHIP) in our first of three against the Tigers. In the bottom of the first, Chase Meidroth reached on an E7 error, Austin Slater walked and Mike Tauchman beat out an infield hit to load the bases as we’d plated our first three batters. With Gallo at the plate, Meidroth scored off a wild pitch, both remaining baserunners advancing, but we left them both stranded and were unable to pile on when the opportunity presented itself. Parker Meadows hit a solo bomb out of right in the top of the second to tie it up, but we retook the lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Gallo. Again they tied it up in the top of the fifth, this time with an RBI double by Gleyber Torres, and Jonathan Cannon came out to pitch in the sixth tied up 2-2. They immediately took the lead thanks to a solo homer by Kerry Carpenter to lead off, and when Merryweather came out to pitch in the seventh we trailed still 3-2. Martin Perez took over in the eighth, same story, and he gave us two great innings to still have a chance heading into the bottom of the ninth. We didn’t even put up an ounce of fight, and lost this one 3-2. Unbelievable! What will it take for this team to put up any kind of offense in tight situations? Jonathan Cannon took the loss, falling to 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA after a two hit, two strikeout one run sixth inning, and Detroit outhit us 10-5. Meidroth led the team with a hit, a walk and a run, while Gallo had a hit and an RBI.

August 12, 2025: Sean Burke (5-10, 4.15 ERA, 108.1 IP, 112 K’s, 1.35 WHIP) took on Detroit’s ace Tarik Skubal (11-5, 2.66 ERA, 154.0 IP, 103 K’s, 1.12 WHIP) in game two against the Tigers. Brooks Lee strained his back in the top of the fourth and had to be replaced by Lenyn Sosa, but we still got out of the inning unblemished as both teams took no-hitters into the fifth inning. Burke blew his in the fifth with one out, when Colt Keith got a base hit thanks to a slow-bouncing ball to second ... but the game stayed scoreless. We cracked, however, in the sixth when Matt Vierling hit an RBI single on no outs to give the Tigers a lead, and Penn Murfee took over on the mound with runners on first and second. By the time he got us out of the inning we trailed 3-0 in a game where their ace still hadn’t conceded a hit, and he’d only allowed a single baserunner to boot. With two outs in the sixth we got our first hit, a single by Meidroth ... but we didn’t score. Shane Smith took over in the top of the seventh with two outs and nobody on, and in the bottom of the eighth with Skubal now out of the game, we finally showed some life ... with two outs, Meidroth hit an RBI single to get us on the board, and Austin Slater walked the bases loaded, but we were unable to capitalize, leaving all three runners stranded. Noah Syndergaard took over in the top of the ninth, getting us into the bottom of the inning still trailing by a pair, but again our bats were silent when it counted and we lost 3-1. Burke took the loss, allowing four hits, three walks and three runs with seven strikeouts in his five innings. They outhit us 7-4, Meidroth showing our only signs of life with two hits and an RBI.

If we’d had any hopes of climbing back into the divisional race they’ve been dashed by now. With one game left against the Tigers we’ve now lost four in a row and five of our last six, and it doesn’t get easier from here. We’ve only lost five in a row once this year, and would love to snap this streak to keep from matching that stretch or besting it.
 
August 13, 2025: Brandon Pfaadt (7-11, 4.67 ERA, 140.2 IP, 152 K’s, 1.22 WHIP) pitched in our last win, but tonight he’s got to face red hot starter Tyler Holton (6-6, 3.12 ERA, 127.0 IP, 109 K’s, 1.13 WHIP), who has given up just two runs (one earned) in his last two starts, neither of which saw him earn a decision. The Tigers took the lead in the top of the first off a solo homer by Andy Ibanez, but we were able to tie it up in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Starling Marte, and a two-run homer by Tauchman in the fifth gave us a 3-1 lead! Pfaadt pitched his way through seven innings, one of the best starts for any of our pitchers all season, but our spirits were dampened when Tauchman was injured in the bottom of the inning after being hit in the hand with a pitch ... diagnosis pending. Martin Perez took over in the eighth inning, and he got us through the remainder as we held on to win 3-1, snapping the losing streak. Pfaadt won his second game with our team, a solid seven inning effort with five hits, a walk, seven strikeouts and a single earned run, and we outhit Detroit 7-5. Yordys Valdes led the team with three hits and an RBI, helping the rookie keep his average above .200 through his 15th game.

We’re off for a day and then hit the road to face the 61-59 Royals of Kansas City, who are currently third in the division and just four games out of first. We, meanwhile, are 13.5 games back with a 52-69 record as we do what we can not to fumble our way to the end of the season.

August 14, 2025: Tauchman’s injury was as bad as I expected ... a fractured finger will keep him out at least a month and is more than likely going to end his season. Through 113 games, the 34-year-old hit .254, with 18 doubles, a triple and 13 homers, giving him 55 RBIs and 2.2 wins above replacement. We’re going to call up Terrell Tatum from AAA Charlotte, a utility player in the outfield who can capably play all three positions, though he’s best in left field. The 26-year-old has hit .280 with 20 doubles and 29 RBIs this year in AAA, and this will be his first trip to the big leagues as many wondered whethere he’d get the chance at all. In order to make room for him on the 40-man, we had to waive fourth-backup catcher Matt Thaiss, who at age 30 will be released if he clears waivers and refuses a minor-league assignment.