The Detroit Tigers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Framber Valdez gave up two earned runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss, while Washington's bullpen locked things down after the Tigers made it interesting with a Ben Malgeri home run. The Nationals got exactly enough offense — a two-run shot from Yohandy Morales proved to be the margin — and closer Yovanny Cruz earned the save to send Detroit home on the wrong side of a winnable game.

Framber Valdez Struggles to Escape Early Trouble

Valdez gave the Tigers a reasonable start but not a winning one. Over 5.1 innings, he scattered four hits and three walks, surrendering two earned runs and striking out six. The walks were the story: Valdez had enough stuff to punch guys out, but free passes kept Washington in business and eventually cost him. When Tyler Kinley came on in relief, he surrendered one more earned run in just two-thirds of an inning, and the deficit grew to a point Detroit couldn't fully recover from.

Jacob Waguespack provided a solid relief outing, throwing two innings with two strikeouts, one earned run, and one walk allowed. Kenley Jansen closed out the ninth with a scoreless frame, but by then the game was already decided.

Morales Home Run Proves to Be the Difference

Washington did its damage efficiently. Yohandy Morales went 1-for-4 but made that one hit count — a two-run home run that gave the Nationals a cushion Detroit couldn't erase. Brady House added two hits in four at-bats and kept pressure on the Tigers' pitching staff throughout the night. Will Dion earned the win for Washington, going two innings and allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out four.

Malgeri Provides the Tigers' Only Spark

Detroit's offense had its moments but couldn't string enough together. Ben Malgeri was the brightest spot, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI — the two-run homer accounting for both Detroit runs. Kevin McGonigle was arguably the Tigers' best hitter on the night, collecting three hits in five at-bats, but none of those hits translated into runs, which tells the story of Detroit's evening in a sentence.

Washington's pitching committee — six arms in total — made it difficult. Brad Lord was particularly tough in the middle innings, working 3.1 innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed on just one hit. By the time Detroit mounted any real threat in the later innings, Yovanny Cruz was called on to close it out, working 1.1 innings with two strikeouts — allowing three hits and one earned run but doing enough to earn the save.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Ben Malgeri (DET): 2-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Kevin McGonigle (DET): 3-for-5
  • Yohandy Morales (WSH): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Brady House (WSH): 2-for-4
  • Framber Valdez (DET, L): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
  • Will Dion (WSH, W): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
  • Yovanny Cruz (WSH, SV): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

What's Next for Detroit

This is the kind of loss that stings because it was avoidable. Valdez had enough to win if the walks get cleaned up, and Detroit left McGonigle's three-hit night completely stranded. The Tigers need Valdez to pitch deeper into games and the lineup to do a better job of converting baserunners — leaving a three-hit night from McGonigle on the table is not a recipe for winning baseball. Detroit will need to reset and execute cleaner at both ends when they take the field next.