“We’re not giving up”, Ausmus said. Deals completed Thursday that sent ace David Price to Toronto and closer Joakim Soria to Pittsburgh spoke volumes about general manager Dave Dombrowski’s priorities, however.
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I would much rather be acquiring than I would be trading. Tigers LHP Daniel Norris, acquired Thursday from the Blue Jays in a deal for LHP David Price, will take his turn in the rotation Sunday in the finale of the four-game series….
Gonzalez (9-7) loaded the bases in the second when he allowed three straight singles, but pitched out of it when Kinsler flied to short left and Iglesias hit into a double play. Of course. But we dont.. Were still right there, so why not make a run?. Alfredo Simon gave up four runs over 5.2 frames with Shane Green allowing three more in an inning. Baltimore’s Chris Davis cut the lead back to five in the bottom of the sixth, mashing a two-run homer to deep right field with two outs.
Still, Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a feeling that his team would make this an interesting game at the end.
Detroit knocked out Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez (9-7) after just 3 1/3 innings. Simon, battling a groin issue that made it tough for him to push off, gave up four runs on just two hits in 5 2/3 innings.
They definitely came out and swung the bat pretty good, Gonzalez said. The Orioles came into the game first in the major leagues with 28 outfield assists, and RF Chris Davis added one in the first inning…. “They were aggressive since the first inning”. Martinez in the first. Jones hit his 16th homer of the season in the fourth and Davis launched his 25th in the sixth, but both blasts came after the Tigers (50-52) had built a comfortable lead. Martinez’s two-run double in the first off Gonzalez gave Detroit a 2-0 lead.
The Orioles stranded the tying run on third that inning when Nolan Reimold grounder out to short for the third out. The Orioles went hitless until Jones belted a two-run homer to left in the fourth, making it 7-2.
Simon allowed just one base runner, on Davis’ leadoff walk in the second, through his first three innings. Cespedes is batting. 289 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI in 398 at-bats this season.
Tigers: Ausmus conceded it wont be easy to win without Price (9-4, 2.53 ERA, 138 strikeouts).
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Orioles: Asked if he expected the Orioles to pull off a trade before Friday afternoon, Showalter said, Thats the bet. “If you told me to be on which side of it, I’ll take 51-49”. No Oriole has started in left field for more than three consecutive games since late June. However, the issue preventing Baltimore from allowing the trade to fall through involved their young pitcher Kevin Gausman.
