Baltimore Orioles: Drop another to the Detroit Tigers

After capturing the lead in the third inning, the Baltimore Orioles lost another to the Detroit Tigers.

Despite strong pitching from the Baltimore Orioles, the Orioles lost 2-5 after a grand slam in the eighth inning.

Home runs ruled the game. The Orioles had two and the Tigers had two, but the Tigers had men on base for the final home run of the game.

Seven innings of a pitchers’ duel

Chris Gausman pitched a gem against Justin Verlander. The two veteran pitchers had a duel with both finishing seven innings. Gausman out-performed Verlander by only allowing three hits, one run, one walk, and had eight strikeouts. On the other hand, Verlander allowed six hits, two runs, and had ten strikeouts.

Fluke in the bullpen

The Orioles bullpen is rarely the reason for the loss, but today was one of those flukes. Mychal Givens has been lights-out all season, but today was not his day. He was charged with the loss and a blown save as he gave up three hits and walked one batter. Unfortunately, one of those hits was the grand slam that gave the Tigers the win. In his 48 games, that was only the seventh home run hit off of him in 2017.

Darren O’Day pitched in the ninth facing three batters. He got a ground out, fly out, and line out to hold the Tigers to their 5-2 lead.

Getting closer to home run #10,000

On a positive note, the Orioles are now two home runs closer to the 10,000th. Tim Beckham hit his 14th home run of the season and his second with the Orioles. But, the home run was only part of Beckham’s story. He went four for four with seven total bases. Three of his hits were off of Verlander with the fourth off of Bruce Rondon in the ninth. Unfortunately, Beckham was thrown out at third after attempting to advance on a wild pitch that took a lucky bounce back to John Hicks, the Tigers’ catcher. Buck Showalter had the play reviewed, but the decision makers with the video screens decided that Beckham was out at third (even though it looked like he was safe).

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The second home run of the game came from Manny Machado. He went two for four today with a no-doubt long ball off of Verlander. The last time Machado hit a home run was on July 7 in Minnesota – he actually hit two that day. There were more than 90 at-bats between the July 7 home run and the one he hit today. It was long over due and a beautiful hit. Machado also had another outstanding play at third, catching a hard hit line drive from Jose Iglesias.

Other than those two home runs, the Orioles’ offense was quiet. Seth Smith had the only other hit. And, Chris Davis actually struck out four times, earning a golden sombrero.

Next: Looking back at four Orioles in the MLB Hall of Fame

The Orioles and Tigers face off again tomorrow. Wade Miley is on the mound for the O’s but the Tigers have yet to announce who is throwing. Michael Fulmer was scheduled, but he now on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.