Flaherty’s shutout lifts Tigers over Cubs

Jack Flaherty delivered his best performance of the season just when the Detroit Tigers needed it most, leading the AL Central leaders to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Cubs in front of a packed Comerica Park. Flaherty struck out nine batters over six scoreless innings, tying his season high and notching his third consecutive win. The right-hander has now allowed just one run over his last innings, a stretch in which he’s racked up 21 strikeouts and helped Detroit take two out of three from one of the National League’s top teams.

The matchup also marked a milestone for Cubs rookie Cade Horton, who suffered the first loss of his major league career. Horton (3-1) surrendered four runs on seven hits in six innings, struggling to contain a Tigers lineup that jumped ahead early with a two-run double from Spencer Torkelson in the first. Detroit added two more in the fifth, with Riley Greene driving in a pair to put the game out of reach.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 43-24, maintaining their lead atop the AL Central, while the Cubs dropped to 40-25. The series, billed as a battle between division leaders with 40-plus wins, lived up to its hype and provided a playoff-like atmosphere in early June.

The Tigers now turn their attention to a road trip in Baltimore, aiming to carry their momentum forward as the schedule intensifies. For Chicago, the loss snaps a series win streak and serves as a test for their young pitching staff, with Horton looking to bounce back in his next outing.