Sports

Sloppy series vs. A's doesn't define Detroit Tigers, but one concern stands out

Published

4 months ago

August 28, 2025

Sloppy series vs. A's doesn't define Detroit Tigers, but one concern stands out

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA — The Detroit Tigers deserved to get swept by the Athletics. Subpar defense, shaky pitching and a stagnant offense put them on the wrong side of the three-game series against an inferior opponent.

It was embarrassing.

The Tigers looked like a minor league team in a minor league ballpark, with the Las Vegas-bound Athletics temporarily playing at Sutter Health Park — home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

“We had a really (expletive) series,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We didn’t play well. We got beat on all facets of the game. So that’s what I call this series. When you get outplayed on offense, defense, pitching, across the board, it’s painful to watch sometimes and painful to experience as a team.”

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) reacts after hitting a single against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.

The three games — an 8-3 loss on Monday, Aug. 25, a 7-6 defeat in 10 innings on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and a 7-0 blowout on Wednesday, Aug. 27 — extended the Tigers’ losing streak to four games, following an impressive 11-2 stretch.

It was the fourth time the Tigers have been swept this season — and the third in the past seven weeks. The first three sweeps came from the Los Angeles Dodgers in March, then the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates in July.

“Definitely not a lot of good,” Spencer Torkelson said. “It wasn’t clean. But what are you going to do? Three games. They played their ass off. Tip your cap a little bit, but flush as fast as possible and foot back on the pedal.”

The good news: The Tigers (78-57) still hold an 8½-game lead in the American League Central over the Kansas City Royals and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by just a half-game for the AL’s best record. The bad news: The AL Central cushion won’t feel as comfortable if the Tigers don’t bounce back in their upcoming three-game series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, beginning Friday, Aug. 29.

There are 27 games left in the regular season.

“We’re going to head to Kansas City and be better,” Hinch said.

Athletics third baseman Darell Hernaiz (2) celebrates with teammates after winning the game with a bases-loaded walk during the 10th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.

The poor defense stood out the most as the Athletics swept the Tigers in West Sacramento — charged with six errors in three games, among other blunders.

In Monday’s 8-3 loss, Zach McKinstry had two fielding errors that led to five unearned runs, including one in the seventh inning immediately after Torkelson missed a scoop on an off-balance throw from Gleyber Torres. Those seventh-inning miscues opened the door for a game-changing grand slam.

In Tuesday’s 7-6 loss, Colt Keith made a bad throw on a leadoff single in the third inning, leading to a run. He later dropped popups in seventh and eighth innings. McKinstry had a throwing error in the eighth inning that Torkelson couldn’t pick. Riley Greene should’ve held the winning run at first base in the bottom of the 10th inning, but he threw home on a game-tying single with no chance to throw out the runner, allowing the winning run to reach second base. After Greene’s play, the Athletics walked off the Tigers on a sacrifice bunt and two walks.

In Wednesday’s 7-0 loss, Trey Sweeney pulled Torkelson off first base with a difficult but inaccurate throw that resulted in a single in the second inning, followed by a two-run home run. In the fourth inning, Casey Mize fielded a weak comebacker but sailed the ball past Torkelson, allowing a run to score.

The players took accountability for their uncharacteristic mistakes.

“Definitely frustrating,” Keith said. “Pretty embarrassing show for me on the field. I misread some balls and didn’t really field the ball clean all day. I felt really sped up. It sucks. I want to make those outs for our pitchers. The only way to go from here is forget about it, keep working and try to get better so I can be an asset to this team.””I’m supposed to go to second instead of home,” Greene said, “and maybe we’re not in that position. It sucks to make that mistake, and it sucks to lose that game, but it’s baseball. I’m going to make those mental errors. My goal is not to make them again after it happens once.””I just rushed the throw there,” Mize said. “It was way up the line. I didn’t give Tork a shot. We got to play cleaner all the way around, including myself. I’m not throwing the ball well, and I made an error in the field. I got to keep guys off the bases, and making errors doesn’t help that.”

One sloppy series in Sacramento doesn’t define the Tigers.

They almost always play clean baseball. They’re prepared, focused and disciplined, with a process rooted in constant communication about the good and the bad after every game, whether they win or lose. For those reasons, the Tigers have been the best team in baseball for more than a year, posting an MLB-best 109-70 record over their last 179 games, dating back to Aug. 11, 2024. All that success isn’t erased because the Athletics swept three games.

Still, the Tigers do have one big concern as October looms.

It’s a top-heavy pitching staff.

Recently, the starting rotation has been the biggest problem — perhaps even worse than the bullpen.

Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal leads the way with an MLB-best 2.28 ERA and an AL-best 212 strikeouts in 26 starts. Beyond their ace, who can the Tigers trust in a best-of-five ALDS against either the Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

Mize has a 3.95 ERA in 23 starts, including a 7.20 ERA in his last eight starts. Jack Flaherty has a 4.87 ERA in 26 starts, including eight starts with at least four earned runs. Charlie Morton has a 5.25 ERA in 28 games (22 starts), including a 4.61 ERA in five starts since the Tigers traded for him at the deadline. Chris Paddack has a 4.98 ERA in 26 starts, including a 5.13 ERA in five starts since the Tigers traded for him before the deadline.

Nobody is coming to save the rotation.

“Execution is the main thing here,” said Mize, who made the All-Star Game after posting a 2.63 ERA in his first 15 starts. “That’s what I need to improve.”

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

There aren’t reasons to be concerned about getting to the postseason, as the Tigers’ odds sit at 99.8%, according to FanGraphs, but look under the hood, and there are reasons to worry about winning the World Series, or even advancing past the ALDS.

If the Tigers make a deep run, it will be by doing everything they failed to do against the Athletics, resulting in a three-game sweep. Simply put, the Tigers must get back to playing clean baseball in every aspect of the game.

Now, it’s time to move on.

“I don’t want to play another game here,” Hinch said. “I’m ready to get out of Sacramento.”

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

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

Sports

Kiki Granberry Signs with Volleyball Program

Published

21 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Veteran middle blocker Kiki Granberry, who has four years of college experience under her belt, will join the Indiana volleyball program for the 2026 season. Head coach Steve Aird made the signing official on Tuesday (Dec. 23) morning. Granberry will enroll for the spring semester in January.

“Our program is thrilled to add Kiki to the roster,” Aird said. “She brings a mix of experience and skill to the table, along with a personality that meshes so well with our team. Our goal is to continue to build on a fantastic season and adding a player of this caliber is a great step in that direction. We have a group that is physical, tough and proud to represent IU. I am positive that Kiki will have a tremendous impact on the group, compete like crazy and develop into a pro that will thrive at the next level.”

Granberry spent the last four seasons at Tennessee where she was one of the nation’s most efficient offensive forces. In her time on Rocky Top, Granberry was a career .376 hitter (509-134-997). During her junior campaign in 2024, she hit .455 with 189 kills and just 36 attacking errors and finished second in the country in hitting percentage.

The 6-foot-3 native of Florida will join a deep and talented collection of middle blockers in Bloomington. Current freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray hit .378 with 152 kills and 106 blocks in her debut season. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema was the conference’s leading blocker (1.40 per set) before a season-ending injury in October. Collectively, IU’s four middle blockers for next year have a career hitting percentage of .366.

Granberry was one of Tennessee’s best blockers during her career in Knoxville. She recorded 314 blocks in four seasons including over 100 in each of her first two years. She had a career-high 11 blocks in a contest against Western Kentucky in 2024. Her career high in kills (14) came against Elon in 2022.

She will have one year of eligibility in 2026 after taking a medical redshirt last season. She played in just three matches in 2025 but finished her time in Knoxville as the second-most efficient hitter (.376) in program history. Granberry was a 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team member and a 2024 AVCA South All-Region Team selection.

Granberry will wear the 77 jersey for the Hoosiers, becoming the first player in program history to wear the number. She graduated from Tennessee with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Electronic Media this December. She will join the Hoosiers for the beginning of spring practice in January.

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Sports

David Nguyen named head coach of North Dakota volleyball program

Published

38 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Bill Chaves announced on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 that David Nguyen (pronounced WIN) has been named the 15th head coach of the North Dakota volleyball program..

“We are tremendously excited to announce David as our next head coach of UND volleyball,” said Chaves. “What he has been able to do at FDU was nothing short of remarkable in such a short amount of time. To be a two-time NEC Coach of the Year and leading the Knights into the NCAA tournament for the first time in their history is something that he and we believe can be replicated at UND.”

Nguyen comes to North Dakota following a successful run as the head coach at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson, where he helped the Knights set multiple program highs in his four years. He guided the Knights to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and captured both the 2022 NEC Tournament Championship and the 2023 regular season title, each a program first.

“I am excited and honored to be selected as the next head coach at UND,” said Nguyen. “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Bill Chaves, Deputy Director of Athletics Erik Martinson and the entire search committee for having the confidence in me to lead the volleyball program into future success.”

His leadership helped claim the program’s first 20-win season in the modern era and earned him back-to-back NEC Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. Under his direction, FDU reached three consecutive NEC Tournament finals and four straight conference semifinals.

“My mission is to provide our student-athletes a first-class experience by being competitive on-and-off the court,” Nguyen continued. “We are going to work together to build a legacy our student-athletes, alumni, fans and donors can be proud of. I am excited to take this next step in my career, and I look forward to building a volleyball family at North Dakota.”

His teams produced the NEC Player of the Year, an AVCA All-American, nine all-conference selections and multiple all-tournament honorees. The Knights also recorded the four winningest conference seasons in school history during his tenure.

Nguyen brings more than a decade of Division I experience, including assistant coaching roles at Coastal Carolina and William & Mary, as well as an operations role at Virginia and a student position at Virginia Commonwealth.

Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University. He will be introduced to the media at a later date.

THE DAVID NGYUEN FILE

Position: Head Coach

Hometown: Glen Allen, Va.

Education: Virginia Commonwealth (2018)

Family: David and his wife, Kaylin, have two children

CAREER IN VOLLEYBALL

AS A COACH

2022-25: Fairleigh Dickinson (Head Coach)

2021-22: Coastal Carolina (Assistant Coach)

2019-21: William & Mary (Assistant Coach)

2018-19: Virginia (Director of Operations)

2013-18: Virginia Commonwealth (Manager)

For more information on North Dakota volleyball, follow on social media @UNDvolleyball or visit FightingHawks.com.

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Sports

Springfield College Announces 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

Published

47 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Springfield, Mass. – December 23, 2025 – Springfield College is excited to announce the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted on April 11. The six individuals who have been chosen to the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame include:

Marisa Clapp ’04 – Women’s Cross Country

Nick Guerette ’00 – Men’s Track & Field

Damian Larkins ’01 – Men’s Track & Field and Football

Jackie Moscardelli ’12 – Women’s Soccer and Women’s Lacrosse

Nick Porillo ’76 – Wrestling

Steve Spagnuolo ’82 – Football

The Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame was established by the Class of 1933 in 1972 to honor members of the College community for outstanding achievement on the “playing field” or for service, dedication, and commitment to athletics, sport and related programs. To date, over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Sign up for free today to receive the latest news about your favorite Springfield College Athletics program directly to your email here.

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events

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Sports

Outside hitter Eva Travis signs with Wisconsin volleyball

Published

54 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Kentucky Volleyball Gained New Fans in Special Season That Ends Short of a Title

Published

1 hour ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

If it feels too good to be true, it usually is. The Kentucky volleyball team felt like a team of destiny, but that destiny did not manifest in a National Championship. Even though the Cats came up one game short of a second title, this special season did unquantifiable good for the program.

Volleyball culture is embedded in the Commonwealth, with successful clubs racking up national titles, but that world is unknown to most sports fans around the state. In 2025, Kentucky hit all the right notes to grow the game.

Casuals turned on their TVs when the Cats jumped out to a two-set lead over top-ranked Nebraska in the opening weekend of the season. Even though it ended with a loss, that performance got plenty of people interested enough to turn on their TVs a week later. They watched the Wildcats sweep Penn State on the night the Defending National Champions hung their title banner.

It was a gauntlet of a schedule, one that produced plenty of dramatic moments. After falling behind 2-1 against Louisville, Kentucky rallied for a five-set rivalry win.

Kentucky owned the SEC for years. When perennial title contender Texas arrived, that dominance was in question. The Cats went on the road and swept the No. 2 team in the country.

It’s not just that they won. This Kentucky volleyball team played an entertaining and inspiring style of volleyball. Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson created an explosive 1-2 punch on the outside, while Lizzie Carr’s length looked like Spider-Man in the middle. You didn’t have to know ball to have fun watching this team.

As the Cats picked up steam, BBN got behind them in a way that I didn’t think was possible. Craig Skinner stood on a table to ask fans to show up to Historic Memorial Coliseum. He climbed to the rafters of Rupp, went to the top of the tallest building in Lexington, and even hopped in a fighter jet to rally Kentucky fans to support this team.

They showed up in droves and packed Historic Memorial Coliseum to propel Kentucky to the Final Four for just the second time in school history. When fans couldn’t make it to the game, they packed KSBar for watch parties. It was surreal to hear a harmonica playing a fight song in front of a full restaurant late on a weeknight while Kentucky reverse-swept Texas in the SEC Tournament Title.

Just when you thought you couldn’t love this team any more, they did the unthinkable in the Final Four. It’s easy to become jaded by college athletics in the money-driven world of NIL and the transfer portal. This team sacrificed for one another and played together, no matter the circumstances.

Wisconsin looked destined to dominate. Carter Booth was possessed in the middle. A dozen blocks would be a great game for a middle, and she had nearly two dozen. The Cats only scored 12 points in the first set. It didn’t look much better in the second, yet somehow, some way, they rallied under pressure. Brooklyn DeLeye’s defense was outstanding, while Eva Hudson powered the Cats’ offense with nearly 30 kills in a gutsy, five-set win, a victory that will make lifelong Kentucky volleyball fans.

All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, they could not capitalize on a hot start in the National Championship. After letting the first set slip away, Texas A&M took over. Kentucky did not have one more rally in the tank.

The season ended with a loss, but they won’t be losing much from this team. Eva Hudson was the star, but the only senior on the roster. After making countless new fans, the Kentucky volleyball team will surely give them more reasons to cheer in 2026.

Sign up for the KSR Newsletter to receive Kentucky Wildcats news in the most ridiculous manner possible.

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Sports

Thomas Earns First ASUN Honors

Published

1 hour ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lameria Thomas of Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week the league announced Monday.

Thomas made her first start of the season against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday and had an 11-point, 14-rebound performance. The Montgomery, Alabama native shot five of six from the field while picking up one assist and one steal.

The junior is averaging 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season, with her 11 points and 14 rebounds at UIC being career-highs.

Thomas and the Govs are back home on Dec. 28 for a 2 p.m. matchup against Berry at F&M Bank Arena.

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