Fried, Flaherty Face Off in Historic MLB Duel

In a highly anticipated matchup, former high school teammates Max Fried of the New York Yankees and Jack Flaherty of the Detroit Tigers faced off for the first time as Major League starters at Comerica Park. Fried delivered an impressive performance, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out 11, while Flaherty also shined with 5.1 scoreless innings and nine strikeouts. The game remained scoreless until the Yankees broke the tie in the seventh inning with a two-run homer from rookie Ben Rice, ultimately winning 4-3 despite a late rally from the Tigers. This matchup highlighted their competitive history and mutual respect, stemming from their shared background at Harvard-Westlake High School, where both developed their pitching skills. The game drew attention not only for the players' performance but also for their unique connection as former teammates. Fans were treated to a thrilling display of pitching prowess, with the two hurlers striking out a combined 20 batters.