Detroit Tigers blow Eduardo Rodriguez gem, fall to Orioles, 2-1 in 10: Game thread recap
Detroit Tigers (7-12) vs. Baltimore Orioles (13-7)
When: 1:35 p.m. Sunday, series finale.
Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; Tigers radio affiliates).
Starting pitchers: Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 3.00 ERA) vs. Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez (0-0, 6.19).
Tigers lineup:
1. Baddoo, LF
2. Greene, CF
3. Vierling, RF
4. Carpenter, DH
5. McKinstry, SS
6. Torkelson, 1B
7. Nevin, 3B
8. Rogers, C
9. Schoop, 2B
SATURDAY'S LOSS: Tigers muster just two hits in 5-1 loss to Baltimore Orioles
FRIDAY'S ACTION: Michael Lorenzen bounces back with 'simplified attack' in second start for Tigers
Game notes: Javier Baez was scratched from the original lineup due to a swollen middle finger on his left hand. He injured it on a stolen base attempt in the first inning Saturday. He could be available to pinch-hit Sunday.
It’s a rare Rodriguez vs. Rodriguez matchup, as Detroit’s Eduardo and Baltimore’s Grayson bring a combined 183 MLB appearances to the mound this afternoon. Of course, 180 of those belong to the Tigers’ starter, who’s coming off his best performance with Detroit, an eight-inning, 10-strikeout gem in which he threw just 99 pitches (with 72 of those going for strikes). Dating back to his days with the Boston Red Sox, E-Rod has struggled with a few of the O’s hitters, including allowing two home runs in 17 plate appearances by former Tigers catcher James McCann. One Baltimore hitter he hasn’t struggled with? Outfielder Cedric Mullins, who’s just 3-for-13 with a double and three strikeouts against him.
On the other side, Gray-Rod, as we’ll call him, is making his fourth big-league start after entering the year as baseball’s No. 7 overall prospect (according to MLB Pipeline). He torched Triple-A last season, posting a 2.20 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 69⅔ innings, but adjusting to the majors has been a different story: After allowing just two runs in his debut on April 5, Gray-Rod has given up nine runs in 9⅓ innings over his past two starts (against the not-entirely scary Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox lineups). Still, he struck out eight ChiSox last Sunday thanks to a blazing fastball (which is averaging 96.7 mph this season) and a sharp slider; those two pitches accounted for four of his 12 whiffs vs. Chicago, with an 82.7 mph changeup getting the eight others.
Next, the Tigers head to Milwaukee for a three-game set with the Brewers beginning Monday night. The Orioles will stay in the Inner Harbor to host the Red Sox for three games beginning Monday night. After those series, the two squads will reunite in Detroit for a four-game set beginning Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lose to Baltimore Orioles, 2-1 (10): Game thread recap
