Baltimore Orioles (23-14) vs. Detroit Tigers (18-19)
First Pitch: 7:10 EST
Stadium: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Weather: 65°F • Partly Cloudy • 10% PoP
Media: Fox Sports Detroit / 97.1 The Ticket
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Tigers Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler (2B)
- Nicholas Castellanos (3B)
- Miguel Cabrera (1B)
- Victor Martinez (DH)
- Justin Upton (LF)
- J.D. Martinez (RF)
- Mikie Mahtook (CF)
- James McCann (C)
- Jose Iglesias (SS)
Hitter’s Box Score via MLB.com
Pitching Results:
WP: Richard Bleier (1-1, 3.68 ERA)
LP: Francisco Rodriguez (1-5, 8.16 ERA)
Pitcher’s Box Score via MLB.com
Standings:
Standings via MLB.com
Game Notes:
I mean….what an insane game. There were at least three separate times where it looked like this one was over but both teams found a way to keep it going. Ultimately, a Chris Davis two run HR in the top of the 13th off K-Rod put a cap on what was a crazy start to the series between the Tigers and the Orioles. Although the game didn’t end the way Tigers fans would have hoped (those that stayed up to watch the end at least), there still were some positives from the night.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 17, 2017
J.D. Martinez, WELCOME BACK big fella! What a night for the Tigers right-fielder. Two home runs for the second time in three games. A Grand Salami to give the Tigers a 8-7 lead in the 7th. FOUR Walks. Mr. Martinez did it all in game one of the series.
The Tigers got out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a Victor Martinez RBI ground out, but it was all Baltimore from there. The Orioles put up a 7! spot in the top of the 3rd on a doubles party that Matthew Boyd was obviously not invited to. Boyd exited the game after 2.1 IP and seven earned runs, a rough night for the lefty who had been performing pretty well early on this season.
Luckily for the Tigers, they were Saved by the Bell as Chad Bell came in and threw four scoreless innings to keep Detroit in the game. The Tigers began chipping away immediately at the Orioles 7-1 lead in the third by hitting a pair of home runs of the bats of Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez. The game stayed at 7-4 until the seventh inning when J.D. Martinez came up to the plate with the bases juiced and went YABOO!
.@JDMartinez14 now has 3 career multi-HR games (last, Saturday at LAA) & 3 career grand slams (last, 6/16/14 vs. KC).
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) May 17, 2017
Martinez’s home run gave the Tigers a 8-7 and set up Justin Wilson for a save in a closer situation. Unfortunately, Mark Trumbo had other plans and sent a solo shot to right to send the game into extras. The teams traded scoreless innings in the 10th and 11th before Chris Davis broke the tie with a solo HR in the top of the 12th. The Orioles scored two more in the inning to make it 11-8 and it looked all but over.
But there was fight left in these Tigers! After a McCann double to lead off the bottom of the 12th, the Tigers had one out and that’s when the clutch hitting began. Kinsler, Romine, Cabrera, and Avila hit four straight singles to tie the game at 11-11 and give the Tigers a shot to win it. Baltimore initially walked J.D. Martinez (obviously), but Tyler Collins grounded out on the first pitch he saw, continue his horrid hitting woes (0 for his last 30).
In the top of the 13th, Chris Davis came up again and hit a two-run HR off K-Rod to give the Orioles the lead once again. This time, they held on to it and took game one of the series, 13-11.
Bonus highlight reel play from Iglesias…
.@JoseIglesias_SS makes it look easy. #VoteJose https://t.co/5jkTu3CALp
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 17, 2017
Looking Ahead:
The Tigers and Orioles get right back at it tomorrow night in a pitching match up between Michael Fulmer (4-1, 2.54 ERA) and Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 6.15 ERA) beginning at 7:10 EST at Comerica Park. After tonight’s extra innings loss, the Tigers need to bounce back as they get a big mix match tomorrow on the mound, with Fulmer holding the clear advantage. Oh, and the Martinez brothers are a combined .340 against Jimenez with four HR and 11 RBI.
