Payback: Three takeways from the Baltimore Orioles series win in Motown

Last year, the Baltimore Orioles were swept in Detroit and almost lost all games against the Tigers (1-5 in 2022). But now, things are different, and Baltimore almost swept the Tigers in 2023. The lessons were learned and the O's keep rolling against bad teams.

Without further ado, three takeways from Detroit series:

The (another) comeback: Thursday, 4/27

The NFL draft started in Kansas City with the Orioles playing the first game on Comerica Park. Kyle Gibson had a lot of Houdini acts to escape from jam. His final numbers aren't pretty but could be worse for the Birds (4.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). In a 4-2 deficit on seventh inning, the offense exploded for five runs, including a moonshot by Anthony Santander to consummate another road comeback to Baltimore in a 7-4 win.

This was the first MLB game for Joey Ortiz, who was called up on Thursday morning. He finished with three RBI, like Don Baylor in the 70's. The only two players with 3 RBI in their Orioles debut.

The first doubleheader: Saturday, 4/29

Last Friday, the first rainout of the season. A doubleheader was played in next day with two different results. Firstly, Dean Kremer continued his struggles (5.0 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) and Detroit take advantage on him. The 27th man, DL Hall, made his 2023 MLB debut and had good (7 K's in 3 IP) and bad numbers (75 pitches, 2 ER, BB, HR). The Home Run iced the Birds, because Jorge Mateo cut the deficit by two with a Earl Weaver Special. In the end, Tigers won. 7-4.

Secondly, the best outing by top prospect Grayson Rodriguez (5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 9 K) who put himself in a position to win his first MLB game. The bullpen, especially Keegan Akin and Mike Baumann, put Detroit on the board in a four-run sixth inning. High-leverage guys Bryan Baker, Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista shut the door and secures another win, 6-4. GrayRod earned his first W.

Mateo is a beast and Cano a stud: Sunday, 4/30

Baltimore didn't wait to jump against Spencer Turnbull and score a run from second to fifth inning: a RBI single by Ryan O'Hearn, a RBI double by Ryan Mountcastle (his first XBH since April 13th), a solo Home Run by Adam Frazier and a sacrifice fly by Hays to put Baltimore ahead, 4-0.

In the bottom 5th, Kyle Bradish struggled. A two-run home Run by Jake Rogers and a RBI double by Javier Baez cut the lead by one and Brandon Hyde used the bullpen to stop bleeding. And worked out: Cionel Perez closed the inning, Austin Voth threw two innings (2 BB, 2 K), Coulombe keep the runners on base until the Cano Show.

The big righty had a four-out save (2 K) to secure another series win. Before that, Jorge Mateo blasted a solo Home Run and the Orioles finished in the win column, 5-3. In the season, a 6-1 series against the Tigers. Not bad at all.