Henderson’s 2-out triple in 9th prevents no-hitter but Orioles lose to Tigers, 1-0
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DETROIT—The Orioles were nearly no-hit by the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Gunnar Henderson’s two-out triple in the ninth saved them from total embarrassment, but it was another demoralizing offensive performance.
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Beau Briske, Brant Hurter, Brenan Hanifee and Tyler Holton combined to thwart the Orioles, who not only didn’t get a hit until two outs in the ninth and only one baserunner before then, but lost for the sixth time in eight games.
The Orioles’ 1-0 loss to the Tigers before 25,253 at Comerica Park was particularly galling because it comes during a time when the Orioles had been slumping during a playoff push. The Orioles struck out 13 times.
The Orioles (83-65) had been no-hit seven times and came within one out of making it eight.
Through seven innings, the Orioles couldn’t even get a baserunner until leadoff batter Adley Rutschman walked in the eighth against Hurter, who was removed for Hanifee, a former Orioles’ minor leaguer.
Hanifee struck out pinch-hitter Austin Slater looking before Eloy Jiménez hit into a force. Colton Cowser struck out to end the eighth.
Holton entered for the ninth and retired Emmanuel Rivera on a fly to right. Coby Mayo, batting for Jackson Holliday, was called out on strikes. Henderson ripped Holton’s first pitch for a triple down the right-field line.
Anthony Santander then struck out on a pitch out of the strike zone.
Briske retired the first four Orioles in order before yielding to Hurter (5-1), who pitched 5 2/3 perfect innings, striking out seven before the leadoff walk in the eighth.
The closest the Orioles came to a hit until the ninth was Cedric Mullins’ grounder to first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who flipped the ball to Hurter for the third out in the fourth.
Hurter struck out Cowser, Rivera and Holliday in the sixth, his most dominating inning.
Zach Eflin (10-9) gave up a home run to Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers’ No. 2 hitter, in the first inning. He allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out three.