Detroit Tigers starter Drew Anderson pitched phenomenally against Washington Nationals batters not named CJ Abrams.
Unfortunately for Anderson, Abrams provided enough offense for both teams on Tuesday night.
The Nationals beat the Tigers, 3-1, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Anderson pitched a season-high six-plus innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking zero batters and striking out five. All three of those runs were courtesy of Abrams; he crushed a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run shot in the seventh inning that gave the Nationals (74-84) a 3-1 lead.
The Tigers (74-84) managed only one run despite recording seven hits and four walks combined through the first seven innings. And even then, it took
a wild pitch from Nationals reliever Jackson Kent that allowed Tigers right fielder Ben Malgeri to score from third base in the sixth inning.
On the mound: Drew Anderson reaches six innings
The Nationals stuck first with a leadoff home run in the second inning by Abrams, his 32nd and 100th RBI. Anderson finished the rest of the inning without allowing a run, and then recorded 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth and fifth, needing only four pitches to finish a lightning-fast third inning.
The righty set down 13 batters in a row before allowing a two-out single to right fielder James Wood in the sixth inning. But two pitches later, Anderson induced a lineout from left fielder Daylen Lile on a sliding catch by Tigers center fielder Max Clark to end the inning and set his season-high in innings pitched.
That was the last out Anderson recorded, however, with a leadoff single in the seventh from center fielder Dylan Crews followed by Abrams' two-run home run, knocking Anderson out of the game shortly after entering the seventh as a starter for the first time this season. He threw 54 of his 71 pitches for strikes.
Anderson, 32, has been a nice find with a 3.67 ERA this season after spending the past four seasons in Asia. He has a $10 million club option for 2027.
CJ Abrams homers for his second time tonight to give Washington the lead! pic.twitter.com/hIn6wH2Dk2
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 23, 2026
Right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley got three outs in the seventh inning for the Tigers, lefty Brant Hurter pitched a scoreless eighth and righty Beau Brieske pitched a scoreless ninth.
At the plate: Hits, walks, but little scoring
The Tigers got their first scoring opportunity in the third inning after a two-out walk to second baseman Hao-Yu Lee. With Lee attempting to steal second base, third baseman Kevin McGonigle laced a line drive into right field, but the ball hopped over the wall for an automatic double and prevented Lee from scoring. Catcher Eduardo Valencia struck out to end the inning.
The Tigers got runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings, but both finished scoreless with inning-ending 4-6-3 double plays, the first from left fielder Javier Báez and the second from Lee.
The Tigers tied the game at 1-1 with two outs in the sixth when Malgeri, who reached first base via a fielder's choice, stretched to third base on a Clark single and scored on a wild pitch from Kent. At that point in the sixth inning, 12 batters had reached base before their first run.
wild pic.twitter.com/Uza9iUg7h9
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 23, 2026
The Tigers got the tying runs on base in the seventh inning with back-to-back, two-out singles from Lee and McGonigle, but a Valencia groundout to Abrams finished the rally.
Next up: Series finale
The Tigers and Nationals face each other once more Wednesday at Comerica Park (1:10 p.m.). Tigers lefty Framber Valdez (10-11, 4.06 ERA) will go up against a Nationals pitcher to be determined.
The Tigers are off Thursday, then host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday-Sunday in the final series of the season. Justin Verlander will make his long-awaited outing Saturday afternoon.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Drew Anderson making 2027 case, but CJ Abrams homers Nats past Tigers
