Baltimore @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2010 ) Baltimore 5, Detroit 7
The Detroit Tigers refuse to lose. Or maybe the Baltimore Orioles just can’t seem to find a way to win.
The Tigers will be looking to ride the momentum from a walk-off win when they go for a sweep of a three-game series against the Orioles on Wednesday.
Johnny Damon capped a comeback on Tuesday night with a two-run, walk-off homer in the 11th inning, giving Detroit a 7-5 win.
Miguel Cabrera forced extra frames with his American League-leading 21st homer - a two-run shot - in the bottom of the ninth that capped a three-run comeback.
The Tigers have won four of five to start July and are clinging to a one-half game lead over the Minnesota Twins in an AL Central race that has recently expanded to include the Chicago White Sox.
Cabrera, who was named to the AL All-Star team on Sunday, finished the game with three hits after doubling twice and driving in two in the series opener on Monday.
Damon’s walk-off blast was not his only significant hit of the night. The veteran outfielder reached the 2,500-hit threshold with a single in the third inning. The 36-year-old is one of four active players to reach 2,500 hits, joining former teammates Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Baltimore owns the worst record in baseball and seems to find different ways to lose in excruciating fashion. The team has 13 blown save chances this season against 15 saves, and have had eight different pitchers with at least one save opportunity.
The pitching staff as a whole ranks last in the AL with a 5.13 ERA and a .285 batting average against.
Brad Bergesen will be looking to earn his first win since May 12 in tonight’s game. The 24-year-old right-hander was banished to the bullpen in June but has made two straight starts, allowing five runs in four innings against Washington on June 26 before pitching well in a loss to the Boston Red Sox, giving up three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings while striking out seven.
Bergesen is one of a number of young pitchers to whom the Orioles are giving a chance as they try to determine which players they will build around for the future. Bergesen made one start against the Tigers in his 2009 rookie campaign, yielding two runs and seven hits in eight inning while striking out three to pick up a win.
Detroit will counter with right-hander Max Scherzer. The 25-year-old has been on fire lately, surrendering a total of two runs in his last three outings. Scherzer made the longest start of his career last week against the Seattle Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in eight-innings.
With premium stuff and a violent delivery, Scherzer has piled up the strikeouts in his career. He struck out 14 in one start this season and has totaled 82 punchouts in 86 2/3 combined innings.