BALTIMORE–What happened? Colton Cowser and the Orioles were down to their last strike against one of the best relievers in baseball history. Kenley Jansen had two outs with runners on second and third, and Cowser faced an 0-2 count before hitting a three-run home run to center field to lift the Orioles to a dramatic walkoff win over the Detroit Tigers, 5-3.
With the Orioles trailing 3-2 in the last of the ninth, Jackson Holliday walked and stole second with one out in the ninth. Leody Taveras walked. Jeremiah Jackson popped to short center. Holliday and Taveras pulled off a double steal, and Cowser hit a sinker from Jansen to deep center field, measured at 440 feet, to give the Orioles an exciting win before 17,616 at Camden Yards in the first game of Sunday’s split doubleheader.
“It was just try to get something over the heart, be stubborn and just put the ball in play and make something good happen, make them make a play,” Cowser said. “I’ll take the result.”
Dietrich Enns (2-0) retired all four batters he faced. Jansen (1-3) blew his fourth save.
“It was good to have a walkoff in front of the fans,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “The fans were great. The boys felt their energy all game and we felt like we were still in it. Just like any game we’re in, we never feel like we’re out of it. And obviously to come across with two outs against Kenley, who’s gonna be a Hall of Famer, and for Cowser to do that, there’s a lot of energy throughout the clubhouse right now.”
The Orioles (23-29) had just two hits in six innings against Detroit starter Framber Valdez.
Gunnar Henderson hit his 11th home run in the sixth.
Brandon Young pitched brilliantly but was undone by a fourth-inning error that led to two runs.
Young pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing the two unearned runs on five hits. He threw a career high 105 pitches.
In the fourth, Kevin McGonigle led off with a single. Dillon Dingler bounced a ball to first base that Pete Alonso had trouble fielding. He threw wildly to second base, allowing both runners to reach.
“I know what Pete was trying to do,” Albernaz said. “Like, the idea, I knew what he was trying to do. We talked about it after it happened. It’s just not the ideal ball to do it on, even if it’s, like, hit soft like that.”
His error cost the Orioles two runs. McGonigle scored on Matt Vierling’s single, and Dingler scored on Colt Keith’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit (20-33) added a run in the eighth when Keegan Akin walked Dingler. Matt Vierling singled, sending Dingler to third. Spencer Torkelson’s tapper to Alonso scored Dingler, and it was 3-1.
Jackson doubled against Kyle Finnegan to lead off the eighth and scored on Taylor Ward’s RBI singled. Henderson walked. Adley Rutschman flied to center, and Alonso popped to second against Jansen to end the eighth.
The Tigers have lost eight straight, 11 of 12 and 16 of 18.
Third baseman Coby Mayo was scratched shortly before gametime with lower back discomfort and was replaced by Weston Wilson.
“Day-to-day and didn’t get too much information outside of that,” Albernaz said.
How much has Cowser been struggling? Cowser is hitting just .200 but doesn’t describe his season as disappointing.
“I feel like I really haven’t viewed it in that sense,” he said. “I feel like it’s been one of those things that didn’t get off to a great start and I’ve been grinding to feel pretty good.
“It feels like the past couple weeks I’ve been putting together some quality at-bats and just doing what I can, controlling the controllables. And for some results to show up, yeah, it’s great. But I’m more proud of myself and the work that’s been putting in and the approach and the mindset.”
Young goes deep: It was Young’s second quality start of the season. He walked two and struck out four.
“I’m pleased. It was a great game,” Young said. “Rutsch called a great game. That was pretty sick [with] Cowser at the end. We were going crazy in here. Yeah, I didn’t really feel my best, didn’t have the best velo and stuff, but found a way to get the job done.”
He was glad to throw more pitches than he ever had in a game.
“I’m glad Alby let me go,” he said. “Just having the confidence in me to go out there for the seventh was really big. I appreciate that and hopefully have some more like that.”
What does it mean? The Tigers are a struggling team, but wins against any team are important. It will still take an extended run for the Orioles to feel more confident about their playoff chances.
What’s the stat of the day? 2-25. The Orioles are 2-25 when trailing after eight innings.
What’s the word? “I feel like you’re always just a couple wins away from getting on a roll. I feel like we have the clubhouse to do it. I think everyone has the right mindset in here and just got to keep showing up and getting your work in and playing good, clean baseball.”-Cowser on the Orioles getting hot.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Luis De Léon allowed two runs on four hits in four innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 5-2 loss to Somerset Griff O’Ferrall hit a two-run home.
Single-A Delmarva committed five errors in a 7-6 loss to Wilson in the first game of a doubleheader. RJ Austin, on a rehab assignment, scored three runs.
What’s next? Trevor Rogers (2-5, 6.87) will start against Troy Melton, making his season debut, in the second game that begins at 6:05 p.m.
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