Detroit Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves September 19, 2025 Game Review
Final Score: Atlanta Braves 10, Detroit Tigers 1
The Atlanta Braves dominated the Detroit Tigers in a lopsided 10-1 victory on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Comerica Park in Detroit. The game, attended by 33,554 fans, lasted just 2 hours and 21 minutes as the Braves quickly took control and never looked back.
Starting Pitchers
Atlanta Braves: Bryce Elder (W, 8-10) delivered an exceptional performance, pitching seven strong innings while allowing just one run on five hits with zero walks and six strikeouts. Elder, who entered the game with a 5.56 ERA, found his rhythm and kept the Tigers’ batters off balance throughout the evening, throwing 98 pitches.
Detroit Tigers: Charlie Morton (L, 9-11) suffered through a disastrous outing, lasting just 1⅓ innings while surrendering six runs on five hits and two walks. Morton’s struggles began immediately in a 34-pitch first inning and continued into the second before manager A.J. Hinch was forced to pull him after only recording four outs.
Game Highlights
The Braves wasted no time establishing dominance, scoring three runs in the first inning. The rally began with Jurickson Profar’s double, followed by Matt Olson being hit by a pitch and Ronald Acuña Jr. drawing a walk. Drake Baldwin then walked on four pitches to force in the first run. Ozzie Albies delivered a two-run single on a middle-middle curveball to extend the lead to 3-0.
Atlanta continued the onslaught in the second inning, adding three more runs. Matt Olson hit an RBI double, and Ronald Acuña Jr. followed with a two-run home run that ended Morton’s night and pushed the Braves’ lead to 6-0.
The Tigers’ lone bright spot came in the fourth inning when Spencer Torkelson connected for his 30th home run of the season. It was a solo shot to left-center field off Elder. This marked a significant milestone, as Torkelson and Riley Greene (34 homers) became the first pair of Tigers aged 25 or younger to hit 30+ home runs in the same season.
The Braves added four more runs in the late innings, including a two-run homer by Drake Baldwin off Paul Sewald in the ninth inning, pushing the final score to 10-1.
Key Performances
Atlanta Braves:
- Ronald Acuña Jr.: Drew a walk and hit a decisive two-run home run
- Drake Baldwin: Walked with bases loaded and hit a two-run homer
- Ozzie Albies: Delivered a crucial two-run single in the first inning
- Matt Olson: Hit an RBI double and scored twice
Detroit Tigers:
- Spencer Torkelson: Hit his 30th home run of the season
- Chris Paddack: Provided four shutout innings of relief before giving up a two-run homer
- Paul Sewald: Made his Tigers debut in the ninth inning but surrendered a two-run homer
Comerica Park Atmosphere
Despite the disappointing performance by the home team, Comerica Park was well-attended with 33,554 fans filling the stands on the pleasant Friday night. The atmosphere grew increasingly subdued as the game progressed and the Tigers fell further behind. Tiger fans had little to cheer about beyond Torkelson’s solo home run in the fourth inning.
Playoff Implications
This loss had significant playoff implications for the Tigers, who have been in a concerning September slide. The defeat marked their fourth straight loss and seventh in eight games, reducing their lead in the American League Central to just 2.5 games over the Cleveland Guardians with eight games remaining.
The loss also affected the Tigers’ playoff seeding, dropping them to the No. 3 seed in the American League behind the Seattle Mariners (who hold the same 85-69 record). If the season had ended that day, the Tigers would host the sixth-seeded Houston Astros (84-70) in the Wild Card round.
Meanwhile, the victory extended the Braves’ winning streak to six games, though at 71-83, they remain well out of playoff contention.
As Tigers manager A.J. Hinch aptly summarized: “It was ugly at the beginning, it was ugly at the end, and there wasn’t a lot to talk about in the middle. Makes for a long night.”
Photos: Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine
