BALTIMORE – The losing streak continues.
Behind six strong innings from left-hander Framber Valdez, a costly defensive mistake by Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso and just enough timely hits from the offense, the Detroit Tigers put themselves in a position to win.
Until right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen imploded.
The Tigers lost, 5-3, to the Orioles on Sunday, May 24, in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
With two outs and two strikes, Colton Cowser delivered a walk-off three-run home run off Jansen’s middle-middle sinker in the bottom of the ninth inning.
It’s now an eight-game losing streak for the Tigers – and 16 losses in 18 games.
The Tigers (20-33) and Orioles (23-29) meet again in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader (6:05 p.m., Detroit SportsNet), with right-hander Troy Melton returning from the injured list for his first start of the season.
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Framber Valdez’s strong start
In Game 1, the Tigers carried a 2-1 lead into the final three innings behind Valdez’s performance.
Valdez – whom the Tigers signed in free agency to a contract guaranteeing three years and $115 million – allowed one run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts across six innings, throwing 92 pitches.
He owns a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts.
The 32-year-old has built his reputation as one of the best ground-ball pitchers in baseball, but he survived several flyouts to the warning track against the Orioles.
That’s how the Orioles made six of their final nine outs against Valdez – not including a solo home run from Gunnar Henderson on a hanging curveball with one out in the sixth inning.
Facing Valdez, the Orioles registered a 92 mph exit velocity on 15 balls in play.
It could’ve been a mess for Valdez. But it was a success.
Pete Alonso gifts Tigers runs
The Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Right-hander Brandon Young retired the first eight batters before Zack Short ripped a double with two outs in the third inning – and the Tigers finally broke through in the fourth.
Kevin McGonigle started the rally with a leadoff single.
Then came an unexpected sequence.
Dillon Dingler lifted a flare toward Alonso, who intentionally let the ball drop near first base in an attempt to force out McGonigle – the faster runner – before he could reach second base. Instead, the ball skipped away from Alonso, and when he rushed his throw, it sailed wide for an error.
The mistake led to runners on the corners for the Tigers.
Matt Vierling delivered a much-needed RBI single off Young’s two-strike slider for a 1-0 lead. Colt Keith followed with a sacrifice fly on a first-pitch curveball, sending it deep enough to right field to extend the advantage to 2-0.
Vierling collected three hits.
After Valdez’s success, the Tigers handed a 2-1 lead to their best three relievers for the final three innings: right-hander Will Vest in the seventh, right-hander Kyle Finnegan in the eighth and Jansen in the eighth and ninth.
The Tigers extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the eighth, when pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson hit a grounder between the pitcher and first baseman for an infield single.
It was enough to score Dingler from third base.
Tigers bullpen collapses again
The Orioles scored in the bottom of the eighth, facing Finnegan.
A leadoff double from Jeremiah Jackson off Finnegan’s elevated splitter opener the door for the Orioles, then Taylor Ward trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 3-2 with a one-out RBI single.
Finnegan exited after Adley Rutschman flew out for the second out in the eighth.
Jansen couldn’t save the Tigers with four outs.
The 38-year-old gave up a walk-off three-run home run with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, after walking two batters and allowing three stolen bases.
It was the third walk-off homer allowed by Jansen, all to left-handed hitters on middle-middle pitches. The first two occurred in back-to-back appearances April 24 and April 29.
Jansen owns a 5.02 ERA across 14⅓ innings, securing just seven saves in 11 chances.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kenley Jansen blows save on walk-off HR in Game 1; Tigers lose 8th straight
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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