|
 The Tigers then traded closer Joakim Soria just before game time,
but Detroit stayed focused on this night. Yoenis Cespedes hit a
two-run homer to lead a 16-hit Detroit attack, and the Tigers held
off a late rally and snapped Baltimore's five-game winning streak
with a 9-8 victory over the Orioles.
Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski had said that the Tigers would start
selling and looking more to next year, and they did just that
Thursday. They sent Price to the Blue Jays for three left-handed
pitching prospects in the afternoon and then traded Soria to
Pittsburgh for a minor-league shortstop later.
But the Tigers played hard in this game, scoring seven runs on 12
hits in the first four innings and later holding off the Orioles,
who scored the game's final six runs.
"We're not giving up," Ausmus said. "Would we rather have David and
[Soria]? Yes, absolutely. But we don't. So it doesn't mean we give
up."
The Tigers took advantage of a good effort from starter Alfredo
Simon, who showed his former team a few things. Simon, battling a
groin issue that made it tough for him to push off, gave up four
runs on just two hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Both hits were two-run homers, one each to center fielder Adam Jones
and right fielder Chris Davis, and Simon (10-6) left with a 9-4
lead.
"I just tried to throw the ball down, and just everything's working
today," Simon said. "I wanted to face the Orioles so bad. I just
feel very happy. It's not easy to pitch when you're hurt. I just
feel really happy for the win."
Cespedes finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs. The left fielder singled
twice and scored three runs. Cespedes batted third, and the top two
hitters in the Detroit lineup, second baseman Ian Kinsler and
shortstop Jose Iglesias, both went 3-for-5 as well.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez hit two doubles and drove in three
runs, and center fielder Rajai Davis added a two-run triple as the
Tigers (50-52) raced to a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning.
After Simon left, the Orioles began to bang away against the Tigers'
bullpen. They got a two-run single from Davis in the seventh, and
pinch hitter Matt Wieters followed with an RBI single to make it
9-7.
Baltimore (51-50) cut the lead to 9-8 in the eighth on third baseman
Manny Machado's RBI grounder, but the Orioles left the tying run at
third and could do no more.
Detroit right-hander Alex Wilson, who came on to escape a jam in the
eighth, pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and earned his first major
league save.
Still, Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a feeling that his team
would make this an interesting game at the end.
"[I] felt like we'd make a run at them," Showalter said. "Just
couldn't shut them down there for a while. I was real proud. That
was pretty impressive, our guys battling their way back in that."
[to top of second column] |
Detroit knocked out Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez (9-7) after
just 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs on 10 hits as the Tigers
repeatedly pounded him.
The Tigers didn't waste any time jumping on top. Martinez's two-run
double in the first off Gonzalez gave Detroit a 2-0 lead. The Tigers
got four hits in that inning and forced Gonzalez to throw 30
pitches.
Detroit broke the game open with five runs in the fourth. Davis
lined a two-run triple to right and scored when Kinsler ended
Gonzalez's night with an RBI single that boosted the lead to 5-0.
Right-hander Bud Norris replaced Gonzalez and picked off Kinsler --
who previously was thrown out at third by Davis in the first inning
when his foot came off the bag after his slide.
Iglesias then doubled and came in on Cespedes' two-run homer that
gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
Detroit got 12 hits in the first four innings. The Orioles went
hitless until Jones belted a two-run homer to left in the fourth,
making it 7-2. They began to battle back in the sixth but came up a
little short.
"Every time you step on the field, you could be 10 runs down but you
better try and chip away and win," Orioles second baseman Jonathan
Schoop said. "We did today, but didn't come [through]."
NOTES: Orioles RHP Chris Tillman rolled his right ankle while
covering first base late in Wednesday's win over the Braves. He is
getting treatment, and there is no word yet on how it might affect
his next start, scheduled for Monday in Oakland. ... The Orioles
came into the game first in the major leagues with 28 outfield
assists, and RF Chris Davis added one in the first inning. ...
Tigers LHP Daniel Norris, acquired Thursday from the Blue Jays in a
deal for LHP David Price, will take his turn in the rotation Sunday
in the finale of the four-game series. ... 3B Mike Hessman of
Detroit's Triple-A Toledo affiliate tied the record for homers in
the minor leagues set by Buzz Arlett (1918-37) with the 432nd of his
career Wednesday.
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