Tigers vs Orioles Recap: Edge Comes Early, Orioles Rally Past Detroit

The Detroit Tigers came to Camden Yards hungry for a win. They had lost seven straight games before Friday night. The Baltimore Orioles hosted them at home, sitting at 22-29 on the season. You could feel the energy shift immediately when Kevin McGonigle stepped up to the plate in the first inning. Keegan Akin wound up and delivered. McGonigle connected hard and the ball rocketed toward right-center field. It sailed 394 feet into the night air and landed over the wall. Home run. The Tigers jumped ahead 1-0 right away. McGonigle's power stroke gave Detroit exactly what they needed—an early lead and a spark of hope.

The Tigers added another run in the third inning when Hao-Yu Lee doubled to left field and Gage Workman scored. Detroit led 2-0 and looked like they had control. But Baltimore was not finished. In the bottom of the third, Pete Alonso stepped into the batter's box. Jack Flaherty threw a 93 miles-per-hour fastball right down the middle. Alonso's eyes locked in and his bat whipped through the zone. The ball exploded off his bat and flew toward right field. It traveled 391 feet before clearing the wall. Three runs scored on that one swing—Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson crossed home too. Suddenly the Orioles led 3-2. The fourth inning brought more chaos. Hao-Yu Lee singled and Spencer Torkelson scored. Then Jackson Holliday launched a two-run homer to left. Baltimore now led 6-3.

Detroit tried to mount a comeback but Baltimore's pitching held firm. The Tigers scored one more run in the fourth on a fielder's choice when Riley Greene crossed home. That made it 6-4. The Orioles added one final run in the sixth inning. Pete Alonso hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Gunnar Henderson scored. The final score was 7-4 Baltimore. The Orioles improved to 23-29 with this win at home. The Tigers fell to 20-32 and their losing streak stretched on. Baltimore's bats had come alive when they needed them most. Alonso drove in four runs total and Holliday added two. Henderson went 3-for-5 at the plate. Jack Flaherty took the loss for Detroit despite a solid effort. Chris Bassitt earned the win for Baltimore. The Orioles had turned a close game into a commanding victory.