Tigers Dominate Rays with 5-1 Victory on July 7, 2025

The Detroit Tigers’ hot streak hit a new high Monday night. Keider Montero and a fired-up bullpen held the Tampa Bay Rays to just five hits in a strong 4-1 win.

With this victory, the Tigers pushed their streak to four games. Their 58-34 record is something they haven’t seen since the glory days of 2013.

Let’s get into the highlights and what stood out from this game.

A Flawless Night for the Tigers Pitching Staff

The Tigers have shown lately that pitching really matters. Monday night kept that story going.

Keider Montero (4-1) led Detroit’s effort, working through six steady innings. He gave up just one run on four hits and a walk, striking out four.

It wasn’t flashy, but he delivered exactly what the Tigers needed. After Montero, the bullpen stepped up and slammed the door.

Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee, and Will Vest each threw a scoreless inning. The Rays just couldn’t get anything going against them.

Detroit’s pitching staff has let in only four runs total over these last four games. That’s a stretch any team would envy right now.

Facing the Rays’ Ace

Tampa Bay’s starter, Shane Baz (8-4), came in on an eight-start unbeaten streak. The Tigers didn’t back down.

Baz gave up three runs in six innings, allowing seven hits and ending his hot streak. Detroit’s hitters took their chances and made their contact count.

Early Fireworks: Báez and the Lead

In the second inning, veteran slugger Javier Báez gave Detroit the spark. He hammered a two-run home run, putting the Tigers in front early.

That shot set the tone and gave Montero and the bullpen some breathing room. The Rays tried to answer in the third.

Jonathan Aranda knocked an RBI single to cut it to 2-1. But Detroit’s defense had other ideas.

Zach McKinstry gunned down Danny Jansen at third, stopping Tampa Bay’s rally cold and keeping the lead safe.

Late Insurance Seals the Game

By the fifth, Riley Greene added an RBI single to stretch it to 3-1. The Tigers weren’t done, though.

In the eighth, Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry each blasted solo home runs. Detroit’s offense chipped in just enough support, and for a team built around pitching and defense, this approach is working out.

More Highlights from the Game

The Rays had their moments too. Gleyber Torres extended his on-base streak to 20 games, showing off his steady bat.

Third baseman Junior Caminero gave fans a scare with a wild leap at a netting-snaring catch. Luckily, Caminero bounced right back and stayed in the game.

What’s Next for Detroit?

With a 58-34 record, the Tigers are making some noise. Sitting 24 games above .500 for the first time in a decade, Detroit fans are starting to believe again.

The pitching staff is rolling, and the lineup keeps coming through in big spots. Maybe, just maybe, this is the formula that takes them deep into October.

The Rays will try to regroup after a tough night. Their lineup couldn’t solve Detroit’s arms, but Tampa Bay’s always in the mix and probably won’t stay down long in the AL East chase.

Final Word

Detroit’s ability to mix solid pitching with clutch hitting really stood out in this game. Keider Montero and the bullpen looked sharp again on Monday.

The Tigers keep showing why they’ve turned into one of the season’s biggest surprises. As the race for October heats up, it feels risky for any team to write off this Detroit squad.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Tigers 5-1 Rays (Jul 7, 2025) Game Recap