Means, Franco lead Orioles to 5-2 win over Tigers

Sunday, August one, 2021
Associated Press

John Means struck out six in six strong innings, Maikel Franco homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers five-two on Saturday evening.

Means (five-three) gave up a single operate on 4 hits and recorded his initially victory considering that May perhaps five. The still left-hander was generating his third start off considering that going on the injured record in early June with a still left shoulder pressure.

“John Means appeared like he did in April,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde reported. “This was early period type.”

Means was especially delighted with his changeup and that Hyde authorized him to throw 99 pitches, 66 of which went for strikes.

“That was my favorite component, just having close to a hundred (pitches) again,” Means reported.

Ryan Mountcastle contributed 3 hits, an RBI and scored a operate. Pat Valaika experienced two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who have gained six of their past eight online games.

“I’m energized for wherever this workforce is going,” Means reported. “The guys are beginning to sort of get a feel for what they need to do to have achievement at this degree, especially the young guys. They are viewing how teams are approaching us, especially from the pitching aspect, and adjusting to it, which is the identify of the game.”

Cole Sulser acquired his fifth help you save, striking out the past two batters soon after Detroit loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth.

Eric Haase hit his workforce-superior 18th homer for the Tigers.

Detroit starter Matt Manning (two-4) gave up five operates, two acquired, on seven hits in five two/three innings.

Baltimore scored a operate in the third on Mountcastle’s two-out, bloop one.

Haase tied it with his a single-out solo shot in the fourth.

Franco place the Orioles again on top rated two-one in the fifth with his eleventh homer, which scarcely cleared the still left-subject wall.

The Orioles scored 3 unearned operates in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two out, Franco hit a floor ball to shortstop Zack Quick, who attempted a power-out at 2nd. Next baseman Willi Castro dropped the ball as a operate scored. Valaika followed with his two-operate one to proper.

“That was a large engage in,” Hyde reported of the error. “We cashed in on a blunder, which is what good teams do.”

The Tigers experienced five hits though dropping for the 2nd straight evening.

“We did not do sufficient to gain the game,” manager A.J. Hinch reported. “We experienced a ton of empty at-bats early in the game and experienced a significant blunder adhering to a pair of walks. You do that and place yourself in a hole, it is not easy to come again.”

TRAINER’S Place

Orioles: LHP Keegan Akin, who cleared COVID-19 protocols on Wednesday, is anticipated to be activated on Sunday, manager Brandon Hyde reported. … LHP Tanner Scott, who walked two batters and hit a different in the ninth, was suffering from knee soreness soon after the game, Hyde reported.

Tigers: INF Isaac Paredes (proper hip pressure) started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Friday. INF Niko Goodrum (still left calf contusion) started a rehab assignment at Toledo on Saturday.

UP Future

Orioles RHP Spenser Watkins (two-one, three.10 Period) will oppose Tigers LHP Tyler Alexander (one-one, 4.eighty Period) on Sunday in the finale of the 4-game series. Watkins, who will be generating his fifth career start off, was produced by the Tigers firm past summer months. Alexander gave up a period-superior five operates in 4 innings at Minnesota on Tuesday.

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