Orioles get outplayed by Tigers for 2nd straight weekend, fail to clinch postseason spot

BALTIMORE- What happened? Over the past two weekends, the Orioles have played six games against the Detroit Tigers, the hottest team in baseball. They have lost four of the six, and instead of securing a postseason berth, they’ll head to New York for three games with the Yankees, hoping to finally clinch.

That can’t happen before Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Orioles lost, 4-3, to the Tigers as Albert Suárez allowed three home runs. A day earlier, they lost, 6-4, in 10 innings. Both games were missed opportunities. On Saturday, they tied the game, 4-4, on a clutch double by Gunnar Henderson in the ninth but, with runners on second and third and none out, they couldn’t push across the winning run and lost in 10.

On Sunday, the Orioles failed to hit in the clutch, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, disappointing a sellout crowd of 44,040 who came for the team’s final home game of the regular season.

Despite their 8-11 record in September, the Orioles still have a four-game lead over Kansas City and Detroit for the top wild-card spot.

They had hoped to celebrate a postseason berth at home but have not played well enough to secure one.

“We should’ve. We’re going to. We stay positive,” Suárez said.

The Orioles have three games in New York and three more in Minnesota, which is also contending for a wild-card spot.

How was the game lost? Suárez allowed four runs on five hits in five-plus innings. Spencer Torkelson homered and Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney had back-to-back doubles in the second.

Kerry Carpenter homered in the third and sixth, giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead.

The Orioles didn’t hit when they had to, but they did run into some bad luck. Colton Cowser also ran into an out at third in the fourth.

In the fifth, centerfielder Parker Meadows robbed Cowser of a home run. Had the ball gone over the wall, the Orioles would have had a five-run fifth instead of a three-run inning.

“It’s just baseball. You can hit a ball 50 mph off the bat and get a hit or you can hit it whatever I hit it today, and it gets caught,” Cowser said. “It’s just one of those things. I look at today as kind of a positive. I hit two balls hard and had a walk. That’s a productive day.”

In his first game since spraining his right ankle on August 31^st, Ramón Urías lined a ball off Tigers reliever Brenan Hanifee that went to Jung at third who made a play at first. Had the ball gone through, Adley Rutschman would have scored from second.

“It was a tight game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We had opportunities. Ramón hits a ball off the pitcher there that probably goes through for a run. Just didn’t catch many breaks today.”

The Orioles also had just one hit in the last 4 2/3 innings.

“I thought it was two really competitive games,” Hyde said. “Definitely had a great chance to win last night, didn’t get it done. Had a chance today, also. I thought we just had some unfortunate breaks today.”

How did Westburg and Urías look? Jordan Westburg played his first game since fracturing his right hand on July 31^st. He went 1-for-4. Urias was also 1-for-4.

“We’re thrilled for a lot of reasons,” third base and infield coach Tony Mansolino said. “They’re part of this. When they started the season, in spring training, they’re part of that team, part of the first-half team that won so many games. Anytime you have those guys back, it’s a good feeling.

“We’re also thrilled with the guys that played that hadn’t been there. Emmanuel Rivera, [Liván] Soto’s played great. Jackson’s played great. The guys that filled in did a really nice job as well.”

What did Westburg think about being back? Westburg and Urías had three rehab games at Norfolk before their return.

“Thrown right into the fire, right? It felt good,” Westburg said. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Like I said, I’m just super thankful to be back on the field.”

After Westburg fractured his hand, Hyde hoped he could return before the end of the season.

“I don’t know that there was one point in time. I always try to not focus on looking ahead,” Westburg said. “I was staying optimistic that I could get back. I was trusting in something greater than myself to get back.

“I think when I started swinging and I didn’t have any setbacks, that’s when I was kind of like, ‘OK, it might be a little uncomfortable, but I can get through that. I don’t want that to be a crutch or an excuse, but I was able to push through that. I’m here now. I guess I’m just going to play as hard as I can every single day whether my name’s in the lineup or not, and hopefully help this team.”

What does Westburg think the Orioles need? “I was here the entire time when I was hurt, so I’ve been around the guys, been around the team, kind of know what we’re going through,” he said. “It’s tough. We have a tough stretch coming up, too. We play two really good teams. The Tigers are hot right now. They’re a really good club. We just have to focus on what’s going on in here in this clubhouse.

“Not thinking about what’s going on outside, what people are saying, what could or couldn’t happen. We’ve just got to stay tight in here and really focus on the chemistry this last stretch and playing good baseball, and we’ll see what happens.”

What does it mean? The Orioles ran into baseball’s hottest team the last two weekends and couldn’t get it doe. Detroit is 27-11 since August 11^th. The Orioles need to avoid a sweep at Yankee Stadium to finally clinch a postseason berth.

What’s the word? “Personally, I’m thrilled. I see a guy that’s going to be a Gold Glove contender in the years to come and we’re happy where he’s at.”-Mansolino on Jackson Holliday’s play at second base.

What’s the stat of the day? 2,281,129. That’s the Orioles’ regular-season attendance, their highest since 2015 when they drew 2,281,202, 75 more fans than they did this season.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in Triple-A Norfolk’s final game of the season, a 12-3 loss to Nashville.

Mountcastle, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist, spent three games with the Tides, who finish their season 69-81.

What’s next? After Monday’s offday, the Orioles will open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Dean Kremer (7-10, 4.19) will face Clarke Schmidt (5-4, 2.37 on Tuesday night at 7:05. Viewers outside the Orioles’ television area can watch the game on TBS.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com