Sometimes, even the best-laid plans unravel on the mound. For Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty, Friday night was another tough chapter in a frustrating stretch. Flaherty couldn't make it through the fourth inning for the third consecutive start, leaving the bullpen to clean up the mess.

And clean up they did—for the most part. Four relievers combined to cover 5⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. Left-handers Enmanuel De Jesus and Brant Hurter, along with right-handers Brenan Hanifee and Burch Smith, kept the Rangers in check until the eighth inning. That's when Smith ran into trouble, surrendering back-to-back doubles to Jake Burger and Alejandro Osuna that proved to be the difference in a 5-4 loss at Comerica Park.

It was a tough pill to swallow for a Tigers team that showed real fight. After falling behind 4-0 in the early innings, Detroit clawed back with a four-run surge across the fourth and fifth frames. The big moment came from Wenceel Pérez, who delivered with the bases loaded and two outs. After robbing a home run in the first inning, the right fielder ripped a sinker into left field for a two-run single, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Hao-Yu Lee followed with an RBI single of his own, pumping his fist in celebration as the Tigers tied the game.

The bullpen's performance was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating night. Aside from those two eighth-inning doubles, the relievers were nearly flawless—a much-needed rebound for a unit that has faced its share of struggles this season.

The Tigers now sit at 16-17, while the Rangers even their record at 16-16. These two teams will meet again Saturday at 7:15 p.m. on Fox, continuing a six-game homestand that's all night games. For Detroit, the hope is that Flaherty can find his groove—and that the bullpen can keep giving the offense chances to win.