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Cowser’s 3-run homer with 2 outs in 9th gives Orioles 5-3 win, deals Tigers 8th straight loss

BALTIMORE (AP) — Colton Cowser hit a three-run homer off Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Detroit 5-3 in a day-night doubleheader opener Sunday that extended the Tigers’ losing streak to eight.

Detroit, which lost for the 16th time in 18 games, led 3-1 before Taylor Ward’s RBI single in the eighth off Kyle Finnegan. Jansen entered with two on and two outs and retired Pete Alonso on a popout.

As Jansen (1-3) tried for a four-out save, Jackson Holliday walked with one out in the ninth and stole second, and Leody Taveras walked. Jeremiah Jackson popped out, the runners executed a double steal and Cowser drove an 0-2 sinker 440 feet, about six rows into the right-center field seats for his second home run this season.

Jansen, third on the career list with 483 saves, blew a save for the fourth time in 11 chances this season.

Detroit has lost eight straight for the first time since June 2023. The Tigers have not dropped nine in a row since August 2020.

Dietrich Enns (2-0) retired four straight batters on just 11 pitches.

Matt Vierling had three hits for the Tigers.

Gunnar Henderson hit a sixth-inning homer off Framber Valdez, who gave up two hits in six innings.

Baltimore’s Brandon Young allowed two unearned runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Detroit took a 2-0 lead after Alonso, with a runner on, allowed Dillon Dingler’s looper to drop near first, likely thinking he could help turn a double play, then bounced his throw to second from an error. Vierling followed with an RBI single and Colt Keith hit a sacrifice fly.

Pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson hit a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo was a late scratch because of lower back tightness.

Up next

Tigers RHP Troy Melton was to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start the night game after recovering from right elbow inflammation. LHP Trevor Rogers (2-5, 6.87) starts for Baltimore.

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

Rays pitcher Griffin Jax day to day after being hit in the back by a 107 mph liner

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax is day to day with a bruised lower back after leaving his start in a 6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles a few batters after being hit by a 107.2 mph line drive in the second inning Tuesday night. After the game, Jax told reporters he was “100% confident” he would feel good enough to make his next start. “Arm feels great. Body feels great," Jax said. "Just going through some basic movements, don’t feel too limited. It’s all in all scary, but I think it was a safe place to be hit.” With a runner on first base after a fielding error by Jax and the Rays leading 1-0, Leody Taveras hit a liner that struck the pitcher in his back. Jax immediately went down near the mound while the ball bounced to third baseman Junior Caminero, who couldn't make a diving play. Second baseman Richie Palacios recovered it, but Taveras was safe with a hit.
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