Orioles Fall to the Tigers 4-1
The Baltimore Orioles fell to the Detroit Tigers 4-1 Monday night, as starter Bud Norris pitches his longest outing as an Oriole (7 2/3 innings). Norris started off the game pitching extremely well. The 6’0” right-hander struck out four out of the first nine batters he faced in the game.
Norris, however, quickly ran into trouble in the fourth inning. The Orioles starter gave up a leadoff walk to Ian Kinsler, a single to Miguel Cabrera, a double to Victor Martinez, and finally a sacrifice fly to Austin Jackson in the inning.
Orioles catcher Steve Clevenger lead the way for the Baltimore offense. Clevenger, a Maryland native, continued his dominance over Tigers starter Rick Porcello. Clevenger went 3 for 4 on the night (he is now 4 for 5 lifetime off of Porcello). Two of the catcher’s three hits were doubles (one being of the RBI variety), bringing his total season amount of doubles to a team-leading eight.
Following a shaky fourth inning, Norris settled down and only allowed two hits (both singles) over the next three innings. With seven innings in the books, Norris had only given up four hits, two runs, one walk, and had six strikeouts (95 pitches at that point).
Norris’ quality start was ruined in the 8th inning, as Kinsler stepped up to the plate and smacked a two-run home run into the left field seats. Norris next hit Torii Hunter in the ribs with a pitch, and the outfielder was not happy about it. Hunter yelled out towards Norris as he walked (in the infield grass) to first base. Both the Orioles and the Tigers benches and bullpens cleared as Hunter had to be escorted to first base by Chris Davis.
The Orioles starter was ejected from the game as the dust settled, but the 29-year-old was not finished jawing with Hunter. The two players continued to yell back and forth at each other as Norris walked back in to the Orioles dugout.
Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis went 0 for 4 on the night, as his 18-game hit streak came to an end. The Orioles and Tigers are back at it Tuesday night at 7:05. Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.73 ERA) will take the mound for Baltimore, as Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA) faces the Orioles offense.