April 23, 2025 Comerica Park, Detroit
The Detroit Tigers capped off a dominant performance on Wednesday afternoon, clinching a 60 victory over the San Diego Padres to win their threegame series. Behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Reese Olson, who tossed 7 13 scoreless innings, the Tigers not only shut out the Padres but also showcased their offensive power in the series finale.
Reese Olson Shines on the Mound
Reese Olson was the star of the day, giving the Tigers a crucial boost on the mound. The righthander was nearly untouchable, allowing just two hits while striking out seven Padres batters. Olsons sharp pitching and control kept the Padres potent lineup at bay, as he handed the Padres their second shutout loss of the series. Olson improved his record to 31 for the season, dropping his ERA to an impressive 3.29.
His dominant performance was pivotal in securing the Tigers series win after dropping the first two games of the series. Olsons ability to work efficiently, tossing 70 pitches in just over seven innings, was crucial in a game where every inning mattered.
Offense Steals the Spotlight
While Olson was stellar on the mound, the Tigers offense was equally impressive, belting three home runs to ensure the victory. Gleyber Torres got things rolling in the first inning with a solo shot to leftcenter field, putting the Tigers ahead 10. JustynHenry Malloy, who has been a bright spot in Detroits offense this season, added another solo home run in the fifth, extending the lead to 20.
Malloy wasnt done yet; in the seventh inning, he doubled to right, scoring Tyler Sweeney, and later crossed the plate himself on a single by Riley Greene. The Tigers lead grew to 40. Dillon Dingler capped off the scoring with a tworun homer in the eighth, sending the ball deep into leftcenter field and giving the Tigers a 60 advantage.
The Tigers offense finished the game with 10 hits, capitalizing on Padres pitching mistakes and making sure to support Olsons gem. Every batter in the Tigers lineup contributed to the hit column, with Malloy, Torres, and Dingler all delivering key hits in the win.
Struggles for Padres Pitching Staff
San Diegos starting pitcher, Kyle Hart, took the loss after surrendering two runs on five hits in 4 13 innings of work. Hart, who entered the game with a 22 record, struggled to find his rhythm against a Tigers offense that hit him hard. After Harts departure, relievers Adrian Morejon and Yu Matsui also struggled to contain Detroits bats, each allowing more runs in relief.
Despite having some strong individual performances earlier in the series, the Padres offense couldnt find any momentum against Olson. The Padres registered only two hits, a stark contrast to their offensive production earlier in the season.
Tigers Bounce Back to Win the Series
After dropping the first two games of the series to the Padres, Detroit bounced back in spectacular fashion to win the third game and secure a series victory. This win marks an important step for the Tigers, as they improve to 1610 on the season, with a solid 103 home record. With the win, Detroit moves within striking distance of the top teams in the American League Central, a division that has been wide open early in the season.
For the Padres, this loss was a tough blow after their strong start to the season, dropping them to 179. Though the Padres have shown they can compete with top teams, their lack of timely hitting and struggles with the pitching staff in this series were evident.
Looking Ahead
As the Tigers head into the weekend series, theyll look to build on this momentum and continue their strong performances both on the mound and at the plate. The Padres, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly, especially with their next series coming against the Los Angeles Dodgers, another highcaliber opponent in the National League West.
With both teams showing flashes of brilliance, its clear that the 2025 season will be filled with exciting matchups ahead. For now, the Tigers can savor this dominant 60 win as a statement to the rest of the league.
Game Notes:
Final Score: Tigers 6, Padres 0
Winning Pitcher: Reese Olson 31, 3.29 ERA
Losing Pitcher: Kyle Hart 22, 6.00 ERA
Home Runs: Gleyber Torres DET, JustynHenry Malloy DET, Dillon Dingler DET.