DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers came one out away from a no-hitter on Friday night, allowing just two base runners in a win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Beau Brieske started the game and retired all four batters he faced.
Brant Hurter took over and threw a dazzling 5.2 innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just one walk to the final man he faced, leading off the eighth inning.
Brenan Hanifee came in and retired the next three batters to get out of the eighth.
Tyler Holton got the ball in the ninth inning, with the Tigers leading 1-0. He induced a fly out from the leadoff hitter and then struck out Coby Mayo to set up a showdown with MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson.
Henderson wasn’t in a mood to wait around. He turned on the first pitch from Holton and whistled it into the right field corner for a two-out triple.
Holton struck out Anthony Santander in the next at-bat to complete the shutout.
This performance came at a great time for the Tigers, who began the night trailing the Minnesota Twins by 3.5 games in the race for the final wild card spot.
Detroit’s only run came off the bat of Kerry Carpenter, who blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning.
Parker Meadows hit a triple in the eighth, but otherwise, the Tigers mustered just four singles.
It was enough, though, as the bullpen came through once more against one of the best lineups in the sport.
