DETROIT -- A bizarre two-run wild pitch briefly put the Detroit Tigers ahead Friday night, but Jack Flaherty struggled through a short start in a 7-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.

The Tigers (81-61) have dropped eight of their last 11 games and face the White Sox (54-88) twice more this weekend.

The wild sequence came in the fourth inning, when Shane Smith’s pitch skipped off catcher Kyle Teel’s mitt. As both Smith and Teel raced toward the ball, they collided hard -- like two football players -- and tumbled in front of the plate, allowing Wenceel Pérez and Zach McKinstry to score. After being checked out, both remained in the game, and Smith struck out Dillon Dingler to end the inning.

The lead didn’t last long. Starter Jack Flaherty gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings

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