Orioles 5, Tigers 3: No defense, no command, no win

Daniel Norris and the Tigers concluded their series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yard this afternoon. Unfortunately, behind poor fundamentals, the Tigers dropped the game — and the series — in a frustrating 5-3 loss.

From start to end, the Tigers were a messy bunch today. Daniel Norris kicked off the festivities by allowing a lead-off home run to Trey Mancini on an 86.8 MPH four-seam fastball. Not long after, he surrendered a two-run home run to Pedro Alvarez on an equally uninspiring 87 MPH four-seamer. Norris topped out around 89 miles per hour and had major command issues. He only lasted two-and-a-third innings before leaving the game with left groin tightness. Norris’s injury status will be important to watch moving forward, as he has dealt with groin injuries in the past.

As the final score suggests, the Tigers did score runs today. In the fifth inning, John Hicks launched his second home run of the year with his family in attendance, the bright spot in a troubling day. Furthermore, Jeimer Candelario and Niko Goodrum both doubled in the seventh inning to pull the team within one run. Unfortunately, Pedro Alvarez would quickly hit a towering home run that just cleared the wall in right off Joe Jimenez to give the Orioles a two-run lead.

While Jeimer Candelario was the team’s MVP at the plate today, he struggled mightily in the field in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Candelario forgot to cover third base as Jace Peterson and Manny Machado executed a successful double-steal. In the eighth, the Tigers got Caleb Joseph into a rundown, but a Jeimer Candelario error on Dixon Machado’s throw led to Joseph being safe at third base. Daniel Stumpf and Joe Jimenez did not allow any of these runners to score, but it sure was not fun to watch.

The Tigers struggled mightily at the plate, as well. Nicholas Castellanos struck out twice in a miserable 0-for-4 day, while John Hicks, Victor Reyes, a pinch-hitting Leonys Martin, and Dixon Machado combined for seven strikeouts in the bottom third of the lineup. Kevin Gausman was not spectacular today (and relied heavily upon his fastball all day long), but he managed to pitch five-and-two-thirds innings while allowing five hits, three walks, and only one run. Brad Brach surrendered two runs on doubles by Jeimer Candelario and Niko Goodrum, but all four of his outs were strikeouts.

One more storyline to watch entering the week is Miguel Cabrera’s injury status. Daniel Norris was not the only player to leave today’s game, as Miguel Cabrera left with left bicep spasms. Cabrera has been electrifying at the plate this season, and is batting .326 with a .941 OPS this season despite an injury-shortened 0-for-2 day at the plate.

Tweet of the Game: