Orioles go 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position as Tigers stall postseason drive, 4-3
BALTIMORE—For the second straight day, the Orioles hoped to clinch a postseason berth. They needed a win over the Detroit Tigers and for the Seattle Mariners to lose to the Texas Rangers.
And for the second straight day, they couldn’t defeat the Tigers, who won their second straight series against the Orioles in their own bid for a postseason berth.
The Orioles were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and fell to the Tigers, 4-3, before a sellout crowd of 44,040 at Camden Yards on Sunday. The Tigers had only five hits but all were for extra bases.
Regardless of the outcome of the next two games by the Mariners, the Orioles (86-70) can’t secure their second straight postseason berth until Tuesday when they open a three-game series against the Yankees in New York.
Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías were activated from the 10-day injured list before the game, which gave the Orioles a lift. Outfielder Daniel Johnson and infielder Liván Soto were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
But the Orioles’ inability to hit, and hit in the clutch, continued. They didn’t get a hit until Adley Rutschman singled off the glove of third baseman Jace Jung with one out in the fourth. Colton Cowser, who reached on a fielder’s choice after Anthony Santander walked, sprinted for third but was tagged out on an unusual play from Jung to pitcher Ty Madden covering third.
Spencer Torkelson homered against Albert Suárez with two outs in the second. Jung and Trey Sweeney had back-to-back doubles for a 2-0 lead, and Kerry Carpenter hit his 16th home run in the third to put the Tigers ahead, 3-0.
Cedric Mullins’ 18th home run scored Urías, who singled with one out in the fifth. Gunnar Henderson singled and scored on Westburg’s double to tie it.
With two outs, Cowser hit a long drive to center that Parker Meadows caught as it was about to go over the center-field wall.
Carpenter gave the Tigers (82-74) a 4-3 lead with his second home run of the game.
Suárez (8-7) allowed four runs on five hits in five-plus inning, walking one and striking out six.
The Orioles had second and third with two outs, but Mullins struck out against Brenan Hanifee.
Sean Guenther (2-0) retired two batters in the fifth.
Henderson walked to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Westburg’s grounder to third, and Will Vest struck out Santander and retired Cowser on a deep fly to center.
Vest retired the five batters he faced, and Jason Foley registered his 26th save of the season when he retired the Orioles in order in the ninth.