Detroit Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves: Game Review – September 20, 2025

In a dramatic late-inning comeback, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-5 at Comerica Park on Saturday, September 20, 2025, extending their winning streak to seven games while dealing a significant blow to the Tigers’ division lead.

Game Summary

The Tigers struck first when Spencer Torkelson drove in a run with a single in the first inning, giving Detroit an early 1-0 lead. The Braves responded in the third with rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr.’s first career MLB home run to tie the game, followed by Drake Baldwin’s two-run shot to put Atlanta ahead 3-1.

Detroit chipped away at the lead with Wenceel Pérez’s sacrifice fly in the third inning and eventually tied the game at 3-3 when Zach McKinstry hit a pinch-hit home run in the sixth. The Tigers then pulled ahead 5-3 in the seventh inning when Torkelson connected for a two-run homer off Pierce Johnson.

However, the Braves weren’t done. Alvarez Jr. hit his second career home run in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-4. In the ninth, Atlanta mounted their comeback against Tigers reliever Will Vest. After singles by Ozzie Albies and Ha-Seong Kim, Alvarez Jr. delivered again with a game-tying single, and Jurickson Profar followed with the go-ahead hit that would ultimately secure the victory for the Braves.

Starting Pitchers

The game featured an interesting pitching matchup with Tigers right-hander Keider Montero (5-3, 4.32 ERA) facing Braves left-hander Joey Wentz (5-6, 5.56 ERA). The matchup had additional intrigue as Wentz was facing his former team, having been a Detroit Tiger from 2022-2024.

Wentz pitched five innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven Tigers batters. Montero didn’t fare as well for Detroit, giving up three runs before being replaced by Tommy Kahnle in the fourth inning.

Standout Performances

The undeniable star of the game was Braves rookie third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr., who had a career day by hitting his first two MLB home runs and delivering the crucial game-tying hit in the ninth inning. His 3-for-4 performance with three RBIs announced his arrival as a potential star in the making.

For the Tigers, Spencer Torkelson continued his impressive season by going 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, and a walk. His seventh-inning homer was his 31st of the season, tying his career high set in 2023.

Dylan Dodd earned his first win of the season for Atlanta with a scoreless eighth inning, while Raisel Iglesias secured his 27th save with a perfect ninth. Will Vest took both the loss and blown save for Detroit, dropping his record to 6-5.

Key Moments

A crucial turning point came in the fifth inning when the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs. Despite a mound visit, Braves manager left Wentz in to face his former teammate Riley Greene. Wentz escaped the jam by getting Greene to fly out to shallow left field, preventing Detroit from taking the lead at that point.

The ninth inning proved decisive as the Tigers’ bullpen couldn’t hold their two-run lead. Vest started strong with two strikeouts but couldn’t get the final out, allowing consecutive hits that resulted in the Braves taking the lead.

Comerica Park Atmosphere

The game drew a substantial crowd of 38,079 fans to Comerica Park, creating an electric playoff-like atmosphere despite the September heat. With the Tigers fighting to hold onto their division lead, the crowd was fully engaged throughout the game, erupting when Torkelson’s home run gave Detroit the lead in the seventh inning.

The tension was palpable in the ninth inning as fans hoped to see their team snap a four-game losing streak, only to fall silent as the Braves mounted their comeback. The significant number of Braves fans in attendance made their presence known during Atlanta’s late-game heroics.

League Implications

This loss was particularly painful for the Tigers, who have seen their once-commanding lead in the AL Central dwindle dramatically. What was a 14-game advantage shortly before the All-Star break and still a 10-game lead on September 3 has now shrunk to just one game over the Cleveland Guardians, who are on a 10-game winning streak.

For the Braves, despite being 20 games behind division-leading Philadelphia in the NL East, the win extended their winning streak to seven games, providing a strong finish to what has been a disappointing season overall.

The teams will conclude their weekend series on Sunday with Detroit’s Casey Mize (14-5, 3.88 ERA) scheduled to face Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (6-13, 4.64 ERA) as the Tigers desperately try to halt their slide and maintain their shrinking division lead.

Photos: Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine