The Baltimore Orioles exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take Game 1 of the ALDS 12-3 over the Detroit Tigers. Already leading 4-3 as they came up, the Orioles sent 12 men to the plate on route to their highest scoring total in their postseason history. They got RBI’s from Nelson Cruz, Ryan Flaherty, Nick Hundley, Jonathan Schoop (2), and Alejandro De Aza (2). All this came after one out and a runner, De Aza, on second. De Aza scored the first run of the inning when Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine could not handle a ground ball from Adam Jones.
The game started off as a seesaw affair. Batimore started the scoring when Cruz blasted a two-run home run that scored Nick Markakis, and they appeared well on their way to victory.
Detroit, though, tied it with back-to-back home runs from Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez to lead off the top of the second. Markakis then gave Baltimore the lead back with an RBI single that scored Torii Hunter in the bottom half of the second.
The score remained 3-2 Tigers until the bottom of the seventh. J.J. Hardy led off with a solo shot of his own to extend the Orioles’ lead to 4-2.
Detroit appeared on the comeback trail again when they got their lead-off man, Ian Kinsler, aboard on an infield single to open the top of the eighth. With Kinsler running on the pitch, however, Hunter lined into a double play to kill the potential rally. Miguel Cabrera followed with an opposite-field solo home run to pull the Tigers to within a run before the eighth-inning party started for the Orioles.
Chris Tillman pitched the required five innings to qualify for the win. He allowed the two home runs to Victor and J.D. Martinez as two of the four hits he allowed. He also walked one and stuck out six. Four Orioles relievers combined for one run in four innings with Darren O’Day giving up Cabrera’s solo shot.
Zach Britton entered in the eighth with the intent of picking up a four-out save, but after the outburst that lasted more than half an hour, he gave way to Tommy Hunter to finish it out and save himself for Game 2 on Friday.
Max Scherzer took the loss for Detroit. Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 7+ innings while walking one and striking out six. Joba Chamberlain (2), Joakim Soria (4), and Phil Coke (1) all gave up runs in the Orioles’ monster eighth inning.
Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis made the ALDS roster and started in center field. Davis was questionable after suffering a Grade 1 groin strain last Saturday, and his making the roster was a late decision by manager Brad Ausmus. Davis was 1 for 3 on the night.
The two teams will go at it again Friday afternoon when Game 2 begins at 12:00 noon. The Tigers will send Justin Verlander (15-12, 4.54 ERA) to the mound, and Baltimore will counter with Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54). The game will air on TBS.
PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Carr, Getty Images Sport
