Tigers can't overcome Jack Flaherty's struggles in loss vs Rangers

It happened on back-to-back doubles from Jake Burger and Alejandro Osuna.

Aside from those two hits, the four relievers were responsible for just two hits and one walk in a much-needed positive performance from the bullpen.

The Tigers (16-17) and the Rangers (16-16) meet again Saturday (7:15 p.m., Fox), continuing a six-game homestand featuring all night games.

In Friday's game, the Tigers and Rangers traded four runs through the first five innings. The Rangers scored four runs in the first and third innings, then the Tigers responded with four runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

The big hit for the Tigers came from Wenceel Pérez with the bases loaded and two outs against left-hander MacKenzie Gore, following a double from Jahmai Jones, single from Riley Greene and walk from Spencer Torkelson.

Pérez, the right fielder who robbed a home run in the first inning, ripped a sinker below the strike zone for a ground-ball single into left field, driving in two runs.

It cut the Tigers' deficit to 4-2.

OH, THAT BULLPEN: Will Vest 'not 100%' as Kenley Jansen headlines Tigers' bullpen woes

The Tigers made it 4-3 when the Hao-Yu Lee dropped an RBI single in front of the right fielder, chasing Gore from his start. Lee pumped his fist and roared in celebration.

After that, right-handed reliever Cole Winn struck out Gleyber Torres to strand runners on the corners in the fourth.

Gore allowed three runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts across 3⅔ innings, throwing 94 pitches. The Tigers didn't collect their first hit until Jones' double off a middle-down curveball kickstarted the three-run fourth inning.

The Tigers tied the game, 4-4, in the fifth inning.

Greene grounded into a force out off left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks, enough to score the runner from third base. It could've been an inning-ending double play, but the broken-bat weak contact gave Greene time to beat out the throw.

Jack Flaherty struggles again

Flaherty put the Tigers in a hole and taxed the bullpen.

He continues to struggle.

This time, Flaherty allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts across 3⅔ innings, throwing 91 pitches. The 30-year-old has completed fewer than four innings in each of his past three starts, with 11 walks and 11 strikeouts during that stretch.

Here's how the Rangers scored their four runs for a 4-0 lead: Josh Jung had an RBI single in the first inning and Danny Jansen hit a leadoff home run in the third inning, then Jung delivered an RBI single and Joc Pederson provided a sacrifice fly after Flaherty walked three batters in a row.

Flaherty is making $20 million, but he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rally in loss after another rough Jack Flaherty start