Orioles drop rubber match to Tigers 4-2: Game recap 5/29/19
The Orioles took the field tonight looking to win their first series since the 22-24 of April.
John Means took the mound, and yet again he did not disappoint. When this kid is on, my gosh is he on.
John Means tossed six innings tonight, letting up just one run off three hits. That kind of start should earn you the W every time. Means also struck out seven without giving up a walk.
Renato Nunez continued his tear at the plate, doubling in Trey Mancini and giving the Birds a first inning 1-0 lead.
The Tigers would not get to John Means until the fourth inning, when Nicholas Castellanos doubled in a run to tie the game at 1-1.
Center fielder Keon Broxton came up in the bottom of the fourth and belted his second home run as an Oriole. This clutch hit gave the O’s a 2-1 lead, which gave John Means a chance for the win.
As we all know, Mychal Givens has been struggling tremendously in the closer spot, headlining MLB’s second worst bullpen in terms of ERA. Manager Brandon Hyde decided to use Givens as a set-up guy tonight, and the result was all the same.
Givens came on in the seventh and made quick work of the Tigers, forcing a three up, three down inning. In the eighth, Givens would come back out for his dreaded second inning and gave up a game-tying home run.
Givens was relieved by Richard Bleier, who got out of the eighth with no further damage.
Branden Kline, who’s heartwarming success story touched all Oriole fans, came on in the ninth. Out of the bullpen, Kline has been a bright spot for the O’s, although he would struggle tonight. Kline gave up the deciding two-run homer that sealed the Tigers victory, 4-2.
Despite yet another fantastic outing by John Means, the bullpen could not hold on, and the Orioles dropped this series to the Tigers.
Branden Kline received the loss tonight (1-2).
The Orioles have the day off Thursday, but return to action Friday as the San Francisco Giants come to Baltimore for a three-game interleague series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards at 7:05 pm ET.
