Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Game Review July 24, 2025
Final Score: Blue Jays 11, Tigers 4
The Detroit Tigers hosted the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park on a warm Thursday evening in what began as a tight pitchers’ duel but ended in a decisive Blue Jays victory. The game, attended by 30,051 fans, showcased two division leaders heading in opposite directions, with Toronto extending their hot streak while Detroit continued to struggle.
Starting Pitchers
Detroit Tigers: Reese Olson (4-4) took the mound for the Tigers and looked solid through five innings, keeping the potent Blue Jays offense largely in check. However, his outing unraveled in the sixth when he allowed five runs, including back-to-back home runs. His final line: 5⅔ innings, 6 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts on 95 pitches.
Toronto Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (6-2) delivered a season-best performance, pitching eight strong innings while allowing just one run on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. His efficiency and command kept the Tigers’ batters off balance throughout the evening.
Game Highlights
The Tigers struck first when Jahmai Jones connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, giving Detroit an early 1-0 lead that energized the Comerica Park crowd.
The game’s turning point came in the sixth inning when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch made a strategic decision that backfired. With runners on the corners, Hinch intentionally walked left-handed hitter Addison Barger to face right-handed Ernie Clement. The move made sense statistically (Barger had an .893 OPS against righties while Clement had just a .543 OPS), but Olson hung a slider that Clement crushed for a three-run homer. Joey Loperfido followed immediately with a solo shot, putting Toronto ahead 5-1.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a force throughout the game, delivering a game-tying RBI double in the sixth inning and adding another RBI double in the seventh as part of Toronto’s four-run outburst. Nathan Lukes added a two-run homer in the eighth, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 11-1.
The Tigers showed some life in the ninth inning when Spencer Torkelson hit his 22nd home run of the season, part of a three-run rally against Chad Green, but it was far too little, too late.
Team Context
The victory highlighted the contrasting fortunes of both teams. The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games, including nine straight series openers. They improved to 61-42 on the season, holding a 4.5-game lead in their division.
Meanwhile, the Tigers, despite still leading the AL Central with a 60-44 record, have fallen into a concerning slump, losing 10 of their last 11 games, including four straight. This slide has reduced their division lead to 8 games over Cleveland.
Comerica Park Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Comerica Park shifted dramatically as the game progressed. The initial excitement from Jones’ first-inning home run gave way to growing concern as the Blue Jays’ offensive onslaught continued. By the late innings, with the Tigers trailing by double digits, the mood had become somber enough that catcher Jake Rogers was called upon to pitch the ninth inning – a clear white flag and rare sight that momentarily lightened the mood among the remaining faithful.
The Blue Jays and Tigers continue their four-game series tomorrow with Toronto’s José Berríos (6-4) scheduled to face Detroit’s Keider Montero (4-2) in what the struggling Tigers hope will be a bounce-back opportunity.
Photos: Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine
