Tigers' four-game winning streak ends with 7-1 loss in Baltimore

Baltimore — This game started badly and got worse, and as the last out was recorded, the Tigers' four-game winning streak was abruptly and decisively ended with a 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

With a score of 80-74, they still had a narrow claim to a share of the last wildcard spot until the final between the Twins and the Red Sox.

“It was definitely a playoff atmosphere,” said center fielder Parker Meadows. “They came out with momentum. But it's a three-game series for a reason. We're going to go out tomorrow and give it everything we've got.”

The Orioles came into the game with 222 home runs, second only to the Yankees, and yet the Tigers had hit just one home run in three games at Comerica Park last weekend. Apparently they were saving those for their home fans.

A roaring crowd of 33,629 at Camden Yards was treated to five incredible home runs, two by rookie Colton Cowser totaling 829 feet and two by former Tiger James McCann.

“We missed a lot of hits tonight when they got the balls to hit, they didn't miss,” manager AJ Hinch said. “They beat them out of the ballpark. It's a talented lineup with a lot of power.”

Four of the five home runs were hit by rookie right-hander Keider Montero, who was used as bulk relief for the second time this season.

“The location was the problem,” Montero said through interpreter Carlos Guillen. “In Major League Baseball, you don't want to miss pitches. These hitters don't miss opportunities like that.”

RESULT: Orioles 7, Tigers 1

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Curiously, Montero managed seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings and managed eight whiffs in ten swings with his changeup. It was a feast of hunger.

“I told him on the mound, 'Cheer up,'” Hinch said. “In five or six days, you'll get the ball back and help us win.”

Hinch used left-hander Tyler Holton primarily as an opener to neutralize left-handed leadoff hitter Gunnar Henderson and switch hitter Anthony Santander, who does the most damage against right-handed pitchers.

Henderson hit Holton's first pitch to right-center field. It was a routine hit between center fielder Parker Meadows and right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Both players backed away and the ball dropped for a double.

“A slip-up on my part,” Meadows said. “It's on me. I thought I saw him wave his hand, but I have to take the initiative out there and go for every ball.”

Meadows said crowd noise was a factor, as was the dusk.

“When you call it, you don't hear anything, so you have to wave your hands,” Meadows said. “It's on me.”

Carpenter didn't blame Meadows entirely.

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“It was a twilight ball and I don't think any of us saw it properly the whole time,” Carpenter said. “I certainly didn't see it. And it was right between us. It's not his fault. It's nobody's fault. I got close and he thought I waved at him, but I didn't. I didn't whistle for it and he didn't whistle for it. It was right between us and it finally fell.”

Holton got the next two batters and got Santander into a 2-2 count after an ugly swing at a fastball. But he left a cutter across the plate and Santander smashed it, his 43rd home run (12 right-handed) and the Tigers were quickly in a two-run hole.

“It's a tough blow and I feel bad for Holton,” Carpenter said. “He shouldn't have had to face Santander there.”

Holton had allowed just two earned runs in 47.1 innings since June 29. That total doubled after four batters.

Montero came in the second inning and snapped a 14-inning hitless streak, including five hitless innings against the Orioles on Sunday.

Cowser put an end to it all by hitting Montero's first pitch (a 93.6 mph fastball) 412 feet over the center field wall.

McCann struck out first in the fourth inning with a runner on base and two outs, hitting a hanging slider 420 feet into the left-field seats.

Cowser and McCann both hit home runs in the sixth inning. Montero hit a curveball to Cowser that traveled 417 feet. McCann spun a 2-2 slider up the middle and hit it around the foul post to left.

It is the 13th time this season that an Orioles player has hit multiple home runs in a game. It is the first time since 2021 that two players have hit multiple home runs in the same game.

It was the second time since August 22 that a Tigers bulk relief pitcher allowed more than two runs.

“I've said time and time again it's not going to be perfect,” Hinch said. “Tonight it wasn't.”

And for the second time in a week, the Tigers had no answer for All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes. He held the Tigers to two hits in seven innings in Detroit and did virtually the same thing here on Friday, seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits.

“His arsenal was pretty similar to the last game,” Meadows said. “He's just finding the edges. He was in good form.”

The Tigers' only run came in the ninth inning, an RBI single by Trey Sweeney with two outs against right-hander Jacob Webb.

Tigers' four-game winning streak ends with 7-1 loss in Baltimore

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