|
 Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the sixth that gave Baltimore
the lead for good, and Chris Davis added an RBI single later in the
inning as the Orioles rallied from that early six-run deficit to
pull out an 8-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
The Orioles (52-50) nearly rallied from two seven-run deficits on
Thursday but the Tigers hung on for a 9-8 victory. In this game,
Detroit could not hold an early 6-0 lead as Baltimore scored a total
of eight runs in the fourth through sixth innings.
"That's where you can never quit, never give up," said Orioles
catcher Matt Wieters. "You never know what some confidence or some
good swings last night might have done for some guys tonight, to be
able to come back and have a shot at the end. That's why when we get
down, there's no quit in this team."
Still, the Tigers started fast. Right fielder J.D. Martinez hit a
two-run homer in the third while catcher James McCann and first
baseman Jefry Marte went deep on back-to-back pitches off
left-hander Wei-Yin Chen in the fourth to help the Tigers to the 6-0
lead.
The Orioles rebounded thanks to a three-run homer from center
fielder Adam Jones in the fifth off Detroit starter Buck Farmer.
That knocked out the right-hander, and the Orioles scored once more
in the inning on an error.
Left-hander Ian Krol walked left fielder David Lough to start the
sixth. Right-hander Jose Valdez (0-1) came on to make his major
league debut, and third baseman Machado welcomed him with that
two-run homer which gave Baltimore a 7-6 lead.
Right fielder Davis added his RBI single off Valdez later in the
inning to make it 8-6.
The Tigers (50-53) cut it to 8-7 in the seventh on designated hitter
Victor Martinez's ground out. They almost did more damage, but
second baseman Jonathan Schoop made a great relay throw from
right-center to nail shortstop Jose Iglesias, trying to score on a
double from second baseman Ian Kinsler (4-for-5) just before the
Martinez grounder.
Right-hander Mychal Givens (1-0) earned his first major league
victory for the Orioles with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Givens got the win in just his second big-league appearance.
"It feels great, just taking everything in, enjoying the moment,
enjoying the time with the team right now," Givens said. "Just take
it one day at a time and try to cautiously not worry about anything
and just go out there and have fun."
Left-hander Zach Britton closed it in the ninth and earned his 27th
save.
Detroit's first three batters had hits in the first inning, making
it 1-0 when Kinsler singled to center. Marte made it 2-0 with an RBI
double in the second.
J.D. Martinez belted his two-run homer in the third, and McCann led
off the fourth with a home run. Marte then homered on the next pitch
off to give Detroit a 6-0 lead. Chen lasted just 3 1/3 innings and
gave up six runs on 10 hits with three homers.
[to top of second column] |
The Orioles began to rally in the fourth Wieters doubled and later
scored when Marte misplayed first baseman Ryan Flaherty's grounder,
making it 6-1.
Baltimore knocked Farmer out of the game in a four-run fifth. Jones
hit his three-run homer to make it 6-4 and end the right-hander's
night. The Orioles added a run when Krol made a throwing error on
shortstop J.J. Hardy's infield single, cutting the lead to 6-5, and
eventually scored eight consecutive runs.
"The hitting was there, the pitching wasn't there," Krol said. "That
seems to be the problem so far in our season. I think the pitching
just needs to be better."
The Tigers will need to find more offense also as they lost one of
their top weapons when they traded free-agent-to-be outfielder
Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets for two minor league pitchers earlier in
the afternoon.
Manager Brad Ausmus said they're just trying to find a way to put it
all together.
"Offensively we're fine right now," Ausmus said. "A week ago we
couldn't buy a run. Now we see to get runs but we can't seem to hold
them."
NOTES: The Orioles added two outfielders in deadline deals,
acquiring OF Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor
league pitcher Zach Davies and getting OF Junior Lake from the
Chicago Cubs for RHP Tommy Hunter. ... Orioles RHP Chris Tillman
said his sprained left ankle is a "day-to-day" thing and he still
isn't sure he'll be able to make his next scheduled start, Monday in
Oakland. He said it's not a serious situation but the start might
have to be pushed back a day or two if trouble persists. ... Despite
recent problems in that area, the Orioles still were hitting .283
with runners in scoring position entering the game. That was second
in the American League -- behind the Toronto Blue Jays (.286) -- and
fourth in the majors. ... The Tigers recalled RHP Jose Valdez from
Triple-A Toledo. He was 4-4 with a 3.83 ERA with the Mud Hens. ...
2B Ian Kinsler had three hits Thursday in a win over the Orioles and
ranks third in the American League with 37 multi-hit games.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
