Apr 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) walks off the field in the sixth inning ad at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Detroit, Michigan – Reese Olson delivered one of the best performances of his young career Wednesday afternoon, throwing 7 1/3 scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers shut out the San Diego Padres 6-0 to clinch a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Olson, 24, allowed just two singles — both to former Tiger José Iglesias — walked one and struck out seven, baffling a typically dangerous Padres lineup with pinpoint control and quiet confidence. The right-hander needed just 85 pitches to carve through the San Diego order, continuing a strong stretch that now includes 12 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings over his last two starts.
“That was an incredible performance by Reese,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was in total control from the first pitch.”
Detroit (now 9-4 at home) has won six of its first eight series this season for the first time since 2015, continuing its hot start with a statement series win over a Padres team that entered the day tied for the best record in baseball.
The Tigers opened the scoring with Gleyber Torres’ first-inning solo homer, then extended their lead in the fifth when rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy launched a solo shot off Padres starter Kyle Hart (2-2). Malloy added an RBI double in the seventh before scoring on Riley Greene’s broken-bat single to make it 4-0. Dillon Dingler capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth.
The Padres (now 17-8) couldn’t mount much of a response. Fernando Tatís Jr.’s 23-game on-base streak came to an end, and Manny Machado summed it up: “That guy was dealing today.”
The key defensive moment came in the eighth when Tigers centerfielder Javier Báez made an over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track to stifle a rare Padres threat.
Olson, a relative underdog in a rotation that includes AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and former top pick Casey Mize, continues to earn respect. “He hit his spots, didn’t leave many pitches over the plate,” Machado added. “When a guy’s doing that, sometimes you’ve just got to tip your cap.”
The Tigers, backed by a rotation with MLB’s third-lowest ERA entering the game, are beginning to look like serious contenders — and Olson might be the low-key ace that makes it all click.
