Colton Cowser hit a game-winning three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Baltimore Orioles rallied for a 5-3 victory against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
The winning homer was Baltimore’s only hit in the ninth and just its fifth hit of the game.
Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday worked a one-out walk and stole second and then Leody Taveras walked against Kenley Jansen (1-3). After Jackson’s flyout, a double steal put both runners in scoring position before Cowser’s second blast of the season.
Gunnar Henderson homered earlier for the Orioles, who won for the third time in their last eight games. Dietrich Enns (2-0) was the winning pitcher with 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief.
Detroit starter Framber Valdez pitched six strong innings, but the Tigers suffered their eighth consecutive loss. Matt Vierling had three hits and drove in the game’s first run for the Tigers, who’ve dropped 14 of their last 16 games.
Valdez allowed one run on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Detroit’s Will Vest pitched a shutout inning of relief.
Starting pitcher Brandon Young had a solid outing for Baltimore, working 6 2/3 innings while giving up two unearned runs and five hits.
Vierling’s one-out single in the fourth inning provided the game’s first run two batters following a throwing error by Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso. Colt Keith’s sacrifice fly extended the lead.
Henderson’s solo homer with one out in the sixth marked his 11th long ball of the season. It was Baltimore’s second hit of the game and trimmed the gap to 2-1.
Dillon Dingler scored his second run of the game on pinch hitter Spencer Torkelson’s infield single in the eighth inning for Detroit. The Tigers threatened for more with the bases loaded but didn’t convert when Enns was summoned from the bullpen and notched the last out on Zack Short’s flyout.
Baltimore’s Jeremiah Jackson doubled off Kyle Finnegan to begin the bottom of the eighth and scored on Taylor Ward’s single. The Orioles ended up with two runners on base with one out, but Jansen came on to induce Alonso’s pop out to end the inning.
Detroit finished with six singles and Short’s double.
