The Washington Nationals fell flat in Detroit on Monday, September 21, dropping a 9-2 decision to the Tigers at Comerica Park. DJ Herz lasted just four innings and surrendered four earned runs before the bullpen made things considerably worse, with Luis Perales giving up five more in two frames. A three-homer night from Detroit's lineup — Ben Malgeri, Spencer Torkelson, and Javier Báez each went deep — turned what could have been a competitive game into a blowout. Yohandy Morales provided Washington's lone bright spot with a two-run home run, but it was nowhere near enough.

DJ Herz Struggles to Hold the Tigers Early

Herz walked into Comerica Park with a chance to give the Nationals a quality start and walked out with an L next to his name. In four innings of work, he allowed five hits, issued two walks, struck out four, and gave up four earned runs. It was the kind of outing that puts a team behind before the offense can even find its footing.

The Tigers jumped on him early and never let up. Hao-Yu Lee went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Eduardo Valencia added three more hits to keep the pressure relentless inning after inning. Washington's pitching staff simply had no answer for Detroit's patient, productive lineup on this night.

Bullpen Collapse Turns a Deficit Into a Rout

If Herz's start was bad, what followed from Luis Perales was worse. The right-hander entered in the fifth inning and promptly imploded, giving up five hits, two walks, and five earned runs across two innings. By the time Perales exited, the score was effectively out of reach and the game had shifted entirely into damage-control territory.

Josiah Gray provided the only real relief of the night in a literal sense, working the final two innings and allowing just two hits with zero earned runs. It was a cleaner line, but the deficit it came attached to — 9-2 — rendered it meaningless in the standings column.

Detroit's Lineup Punished Every Mistake

Three different Tigers hit home runs, and the damage was spread across the order in a way that made Washington's pitchers pay for every mistake.

  • Ben Malgeri: 2-for-4, one home run, three RBI
  • Spencer Torkelson: 1-for-4, one home run, two RBI
  • Javier Báez: 1-for-2, one home run, two RBI
  • Hao-Yu Lee: 3-for-5, one RBI
  • Eduardo Valencia: 3-for-4
  • Dillon Dingler: 2-for-3

Keider Montero earned the win for Detroit after taking over from River Ryan. Montero tossed four spotless innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit. Ryan had been equally effective through the first three, holding the Nationals to two hits with no earned runs. Washington's bats simply could not solve Detroit's pitching when it counted.

Morales Home Run the Only Offense Washington Could Muster

Yohandy Morales delivered the Nationals' most impactful moment of the night, connecting for a two-run home run that accounted for both Washington runs. Jacob Young chipped in with two hits, going 2-for-3 on the evening. Beyond those two contributions, the Nationals' lineup was largely invisible against a deep and effective Detroit pitching staff that kept Washington off balance from the first pitch.

What's Next for the Nationals

Washington will look to bounce back quickly as the 2026 regular season winds toward its conclusion. A seven-run loss to a Tigers squad that got contributions up and down the lineup is a tough result to absorb, and the Nationals will need better starting pitching and more run support in the next outing to get back on track.