HOUSTON – Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer, Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings and Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman completed the shutout to give Chicago the victory.
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The candidates to fill the Detroit Tigers’ open starting pitcher slot Thursday are beginning to dwindle.
Home runs from sources expected and unexpected helped the Orioles to a big September series win Sunday, with new reserve outfielder Michael Bourn and second baseman Jonathan Schoop providing all the required scoring in a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers before an announced 33,069 at Comerica Park.
The Orioles (78-64) entered Detroit on Friday a game ahead of the Tigers (76-66) for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Rangers ace Cole Hamels (14-5, 3.25 ERA) tries to get back on track when the AL West leaders visit Mike Trout and the Angels.
“He didn’t look very rusty”, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. Since then, the Tigers have been able to keep pace by pulling out close games late. We’re in a little bit of a downswing. “We know they have a good offense, but we threw the first punch”. The Orioles lead the majors with 224 home runs after their four-homer outburst.Ubaldo Jiminez (7-11) won his second consecutive start, holding the Tigers to two runs on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann lasted just one-plus inning in his first start since coming off the 15-day disabled list.
Fulmer, who had lost his last three starts, departed with a 3-2 lead. “I feel like I’ve done enough in my career that they should be able to trust me and put me into this spot”. “But it was fun, it really was. The crowd was on its feet for a lot of the game and that gets us going”. And even if the Orioles can’t somehow catch Boston, they can still possibly jump up one seed into fourth place by bumping the Toronto Blue Jays, who lead Baltimore by just one game with a current 78-63 record.There are just more than 20 games remaining for the Orioles in the regular season schedule.
Detroit had a golden opportunity in the eighth when Miguel Cabrera came up with runners on first and second with one out, but he grounded into an inning-ending double play to cap off an 0-for-9 series at the plate. He finished with 114 pitches after retiring the side in the sixth.
“I’m not sure if my velocity will be back this year”, said Zimmermann, who is 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA in six career starts against Baltimore. Clark took a glancing blow in the eighth inning from a Steven Moya grounder as he tried to pirouette out of the way. “We need to win now”. “He worked out of some tough jams against a good offensive team operating at the top of their game”.
KIM STEALING: Hyun Soo Kim was thrown out trying to steal in the second. Tigers RF J.D. Martinez is 6-for-10 over his last three games, hiking his batting average to.325.2.
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After an 11-minute rain delay at the start, Adam Jones hit Zimmermannn’s first pitch on a high arc into the Tigers bullpen in left.
