BALTIMORE - Adam Frazier dashed home on Mason Englert's wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Baltimore Orioles their sixth straight victory, 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
The Orioles won for the 10th time in 12 games, this time on a day when Detroit's Eduardo Rodriguez retired the first 20 Baltimore hitters. Keegan Akin (1-1) kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the top of 10th, and Englert (0-1) was unable to do the same in the bottom half.
Frazier pinch-ran as the automatic runner and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Detroit brought an outfielder in to use as a fifth infielder, but Jorge Mateo never had to swing the bat. Englert's first pitch to him skipped away and Frazier scored for Baltimore's second walk-off win of this three-game series.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 23: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles slides safe into home plate for a run against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 23, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patri …
The Tigers left 13 men on base, including three in the 10th after Orioles manager Brandon Hyde issued two intentional walks. Those allowed the left-handed Akin to face more lefty hitters.
After a leadoff groundout by Matt Vierling moved the automatic runner to third, Eric Haase was walked intentionally. Zach McKinstry struck out, and then Spencer Torkelson was given a free pass, loading the bases. Nick Maton ended the threat with a popup.
Rodriguez had his bid for a perfect game broken up by Ryan Mountcastle’s two-out single in the seventh, but that was the only baserunner he allowed in seven innings. The veteran left-hander struck out six.
Torkelson hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to put the Tigers up 1-0, but pinch-hitter Anthony Santander doubled home a run to tie it in the bottom half — with the speedy Mateo scoring from first ahead of the relay on an aggressive send by third base coach Tony Mansolino.
Rookie starter Grayson Rodriguez pitched five scoreless innings for the Orioles, allowing five hits and three walks with six strikeouts. A double-play grounder helped him get through a jam in the second, and the Tigers left the bases loaded in the third when Torkelson's liner was caught by a tumbling Ryan McKenna in right field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Mateo returned to the lineup after missing two games with right hip discomfort.
UP NEXT
Detroit heads to Milwaukee for a three-game series. Matthew Boyd (0-1) starts Monday night for the Tigers against Colin Rea (0-0).
Baltimore hosts Boston on Monday night. The Orioles send Dean Kremer (1-0) to the mound against Chris Sale (1-1).