Tigers 4-3 Orioles (September 22, 2024) Match Report

BALTIMORE – Kerry Carpenter hit two home runs, Parker Meadows hit a home run to save the ball and the upstart Detroit Tigers clinched a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday to tie the battle for the American League’s second wild card.

Carpenter’s third multi-home run game of the season secured the Tigers their first winning season since 2016, when Detroit (82-74) tied Kansas City (82-74) and moved a half-game ahead of Minnesota (81-74) for the final AL wild-card spot.

The Twins, who have the edge in head-to-head play, could tie the Tigers in the second game of their doubleheader on Sunday in Boston.

The Tigers have won 11 of their last 14 games.

Baltimore (86-70) lost its fifth straight series and fell 5 1/2 games behind New York (91-64) in the race for the AL East with six games to go, but is still four games ahead of Kansas City and Detroit in the battle for the first wild-card spot.

Spencer Torkelson added an RBI double against Orioles right-hander Albert Suarez (8-7) and Trey Sweeney as the Tigers took a 2-0 lead.

Carpenter hit the first of his two home runs in the third inning to increase the lead to 3-0.

Cedric Mullins hit a two-run shot for Baltimore. Jordan Westburg, in his first game since July 31 (fractured right wrist), added an RBI double to complete the three-run fifth and tie the score at 3-3.

The damage would have been even greater if Meadows had not caught the ball with a jump over the wall in right center field, preventing Colton Cowser’s two-run home run against Sean Guenther (2-0) and thus ending the inning.

Carpenter opened the sixth inning with his second deep hit and 17th of the season, which cleared the front of the groundskeeper’s shed on the right side by several feet.

From there, Brenan Hanifee and Will Vest closed the gap to Jason Foley, who made his 26th save with a perfect ninth inning.

TRAINING ROOM

Tigers: INF Colt Keith (right shoulder) made his first defensive start since Tuesday, playing second baseman. … Hanifee hit Ramon Urías on the left thigh with a liner in the sixth inning, but stayed in the game.

Orioles: Westburg and Urias (right ankle sprain) were activated from the 10-day injured list and OF Daniel Johnson and INF Livan Soto were sent to Triple-A Norfolk.

Next

Tigers: Will return to a conventional starter at the start of the home series against Tampa Bay on Tuesday when AL Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal (17-4, 2.48 ERA) makes his 31st start.

Orioles: Dean Kremer (7-10, 4.19) will try to go six or more innings for the fourth consecutive game to open the series at the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb