Tigers flirt with perfect game, miss no-hitter by one out in win

In a thrilling matchup on Friday night, the Detroit Tigers achieved a narrow victory over the Baltimore Orioles, ending the game with a score of 1-0. The Tigers carried a perfect game into the eighth inning, falling just one out shy of completing a combined no-hitter.

Gunnar Henderson broke the Orioles’ silence with a two-out triple in the ninth, slipping the ball just beyond the glove of Spencer Torkelson, the diving first baseman. However, Tyler Holton, the left-handed pitcher for the Tigers, struck out Anthony Santander to secure the Tigers’ victory.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised the performance of his pitchers. “That was an incredibly well-pitched game by all four of our guys tonight,” Hinch said. Despite the near miss, he recognized the importance of the shutout against a strong Baltimore offense.

This game marked the third occasion this season in Major League Baseball where a no-hit bid was lost with two outs in the ninth inning. Earlier in the season, the Atlanta Braves experienced a similar fate against the New York Mets, and Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez lost his no-hitter due to a two-out home run hit by Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers.

Before Holton took the mound in the final inning, Beau Brieske and Brant Hurter had kept the Orioles hitless, retiring 21 consecutive batters. The perfect game ended when Adley Rutschman drew an eight-pitch walk to lead off the eighth inning.

Brenan Hanifee then stepped in, retiring the next three batters with ease. When Holton entered the game to start the ninth, the tension was palpable. Emmanuel Rivera flied out, and pinch hitter Coby Mayo struck out, leaving the outcome resting on Holton’s shoulders.

Henderson’s remarkable triple was hit off Holton’s first pitch, registered at 103.2 mph, sending the ball into the right-field corner. “It’s a one-run ballgame, so we were aware that if someone got on base, we might have a chance for a two-run homer,” Henderson later commented, emphasizing his approach during the at-bat.

Notably, Henderson became the second player in MLB history to conclude a no-hit bid with a two-out triple in the ninth inning. The first instance occurred on September 25, 1995, with Bernard Gilkey of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Holton managed to maintain his composure, striking out Santander to finish the game and preserving his perfect record in eight save opportunities. Hinch highlighted the significance of Holton’s mindset, especially with a runner on third and a dangerous hitter approaching the plate.

Reflecting on the game, Holton said, “I didn’t even realize it was happening, honestly. I just wanted to get us the win.” His ability to focus on the task at hand contributed greatly to the Tigers’ success.

The game’s only run came from a home run hit by Kerry Carpenter, Detroit’s second batter, on the third pitch against Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde noted the struggle his team faced, simply stating, “We just didn’t score.”

With this win, Detroit improved to a record of 76-72, now trailing the Minnesota Twins by just 2½ games for the final AL wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, with a record of 83-65, fell three games behind the New York Yankees, who currently lead the AL East.

Brieske, who was scheduled to serve as an opener, recorded four outs while throwing 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes. Hurter notably struck out eight batters across 5⅔ innings, successfully throwing 53 of 71 pitches for strikes and starting 17 of 18 batters with strikes, including his first 14 pitches.

Hyde praised Hurter for his unique pitching style. “Give that left-hander a lot of credit—he’s got a funky arm angle and he was pumping strikes. We had a tough time staying on him and didn’t center him up all night,” he said.

Following Rutschman’s walk, Hanifee came in and swiftly recorded two strikeouts, helping to control the inning.

This game follows a stellar performance from rookie Keider Montero, who earlier in the week faced just 27 batters in a three-hit shutout against Colorado—Detroit’s first complete game shutout since Spencer Turnbull no-hit the Seattle Mariners on May 18, 2021. Montero and Hurter had previously pitched together for the Erie SeaWolves, the Eastern League champions.

Hinch expressed pride in the younger pitchers, noting their growth and the invaluable experiences they are gaining at the major-league level. “They won together in Erie last year, and believe me, they enjoyed it, and we’re all enjoying this,” he said.

Source: Associated Press