The Tigers opted for the Opener again, with Beau Brieske getting the first inning before turning it over to Brant Hurter. The Orioles turned to Zach Eflin. We also had one of my favorite booth combos with Dan Dickerson and Alex Avila doing the TV broadcast.
The Orioles went 1-2-3 in the top of the first. In the home half the Tigers got on the board right away, as Kerry Carpenter got a one-out solo home run. Two outs followed, but the Tigers would be happy to have that run.
The O’s again when down in order in the second, which is going to be a pretty common refrain. The Tigers were likewise 1-2-3.
In the third it was another three-up, three-down for the O’s. In the home half, Trey Sweeney got a leadoff walk. Parker Meadows got a one-out single. Two outs followed, leaving the baserunners stranded.
Another 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Riley Greene hit a leadoff single. Greene then stole second, and while he was originally called safe, the Orioles reviewed the play and it was overturned, ruling Greene out. Torkelson singled, but no runs scored.
Top of the fifth was 1-2-3 for the Orioles. Sensing a pattern? The Tigers were also out in order in the home half. Top of the sixth was, you guessed it, 1-2-3 for the O’s. And the same for the Tigers.
In the seventh it was the same story for the Orioles. With two outs in the home half, Wenceel Perez laced a single into right. That was it for Eflin, who was replaced by former Tiger Gregory Soto. Soto, who has struggled in relief, got lucky as Perez stole second and got tagged out to end the inning.
Onto the eighth, and Adley Rutschman for a leadoff walk. That was it for Hurter, who walked off to a standing ovation for his incredible efforts. His final line as the bulk innings pitcher was 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K on 71 pitches. Just an incredible night for him. Brenan Hanifee came in out of the pen. Eloy Jimenez grounded into a force out, eliminating Rutschman, and Jimenez safe at first. Hanifee got the final out of the inning and we all took a collective breath.
In the home half of the eighth Parker Meadows got a two-out triple. A rare double-pinch-hit occurred as Justyn-Henry Malloy was called to bat, then the O’s swapped in Matt Bowman in relief, so the Tigers swapped Malloy out for Zach McKinstry. McKinstry drew a walk, and then stole second. Alas, a strikeout ended the inning. Now, onto the ninth…
Tyler Holton would be the man on the mound hoping to get it done. “It” being a thing I cannot say while writing the recap. And then with two outs in the ninth, Gunnar Henderson hit a perfectly placed hit down the first base line to kill the combined no-hitter and get a triple in the process. Holton got the final out to end the game, but man, it was just so close to being a no-hitter.
Final: Tigers 1, Orioles 0