Cowser and McCann homer twice and Orioles crush Tigers 7-1 to solidify American League wild-card lead
BALTIMORE — Colton Cowser hit his 21st and 22nd homers, James McCann added his sixth and seventh and the Orioles had a season-high five home runs in a 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
With the win, the Orioles moved 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East standings, but 3 1/2 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the top spot in the American League wild card.
Detroit fell 1/2 game behind the Minnesota Twins for the AL’s final wild-card spot.
Anthony Santander contributed 43rd round trip — his second in as many games — against Tigers leadoff Tyler Holton (7-2), as the Orioles won back-to-back games for the first time in more than two weeks.
Corbin Burnes (15-8) pitched seven scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.95 as the Orioles opened a three-game series against one of baseball’s hottest teams. The Tigers had won their previous four games and nine of their last 11 before Friday.
Keider Montero allowed Baltimore’s final four homers in five innings of relief for the Tigers.
Trey Sweeney had a game-ending RBI single for Detroit, which moved into a tie with Minnesota for the AL’s final wild-card spot but behind in head-to-head record.
McCann’s second pitch landed in Baltimore’s bullpen, where reliever Cionel Perez I caught him with a cap outstretched — his sixth such feat this season. It gave Baltimore its first multi-home run game since June 2021, bringing its season total to 224.
Detroit played on the back foot early. A miscommunication between outfielders Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter allowed Gunnar Henderson to score an early double.
Three batters later, Santander hit Holton’s 2-2 slasher just over the 398-foot sign in deep left-center field to make it 2-0 and set up a comfortable victory after his game-ending shot decided Thursday’s 5-3 win over San Francisco.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Tigers: Rookie 3B Colt Keith (right shoulder) returned to the lineup as the designated hitter after missing Tuesday’s game. Manager AJ Hinch said he could return to defense later in this series, or in Detroit’s next series at home against Tampa Bay.
Orioles: Left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe (left elbow surgery) was activated from the 60-day disabled list and right-handed pitcher Burch Smith (right groin strain) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Coulombe worked a scoreless eighth inning. … 1B Ryan Mountcastle was sent to Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab assignment.
FOLLOWING
Orioles rookie left-handed pitcher Cade Povich (2-9, 5.74 ERA) is looking to continue his promising September, when he posted a 3.18 ERA in three starts. The Tigers are sending fellow right-hander Reese Olson (4-8, 3.50).
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