The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-6 in Game 2 of their ALDS matchup, taking a 2-0 series lead.
The Tigers finally got their bats going - sort of - and it looked for a while like they were destined to even the series 1-1.
But a four-run eighth inning from the Orioles changed the complexion of the game and sends the series to Detroit with Baltimore a win away from ultimate victory and the ALCS.
Former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander took the mound for the Tigers, going five innings and giving up three runs.
Orioles first baseman Nick Markakis opened the scoring with two outs in the bottom of the third, homering to right (barely) on a full count, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Jonathan Schoop, who had singled up the middle, was plated as well.
Wei-Yin Chen got the nod for Baltimore. He went 3 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs.
The Tigers put the pedal to the metal in the top of the fourth behind the 2, 3, 4 and 5 of their lineup. Torii Hunter led off with a single to center followed by a Miguel Cabrera double.
With runners on second and third, Victor Martinez singled to left, scoring Hunter. J.D. Martinez then homered, pushing across three runs, followed quickly by a Nick Castellanos solo homer on the first pitch of his at-bat, making it a 5-2 ball game.
In the bottom of the inning the Orioles pulled to within two when J.J. Hardy singled in Adam Jones from second.
In the top of the eighth, Hunter and the meat of the Detroit order again got things going for the Tigers. After an inning opening walk, Cabrera singled to left and Victor Martinez followed suit with a double to center, scoring Hunter. Cabrera was thrown out attempting to score.
Joba Chamberlain came on to pitch for Detroit in the bottom of the 8th and things got dicey.
Chamberlain hit Adam Jones with a pitch and then gave up a single to Nelson Cruz. Steve Pearce then singled to right, scoring Jones, moving Cruz to second and ending Chamberlain's afternoon.
Joakim Soria, who has pitched sparingly for the Tigers since his midseason trade from the Texas Rangers, took the ball with Detroit up 6-4.
That's when things got worse.
Soria walked J.J. Hardy to load the bases and the Orioles brought in Delmon Young to pinch hit.
Young delivered with a bases-clearing double, putting the Orioles back on top, 7-6.
A 1, 2, 3 top of the ninth closed out the game, and the victory, for the Orioles.
This article has been edited.
