Félix Hernández on his outing and velocity (O's lose, 6-5)

Orioles starting pitcher Félix Hernández said he was happy to be back pitching tonight after missing the 2020 regular season. He gave up two runs over two innings versus the Detroit Tigers and then pledged to be better his next time out.

"It was good," Hernández said of his outing. "I was happy I had a chance to pitch again after a year off. The results could have been better, but I'm happy with it."

The O's radio announcers said most of his fastballs were in the mid-80s range via the readings listed on the Ed Smith Stadium scoreboard. Hernández averaged 89.6 mph on fastballs during the 2019 season, according to FanGraphs.com.

"I didn't pay attention to that," he said. "I just go out there and compete. I mean, I think it was 88, tops. But it's the first day after a year off."

Hernández retired the side in order in the Detroit first. O's starting pitchers had allowed at least one run in the opening inning in five of the first six games this spring.

But Hernández got Jeimer Candelario to ground out to second baseman Yolmer Sánchez. Then Akil Baddoo hit the ball hard to right, but Anthony Santander made the play. Hernández ended the inning with a swinging strikeout of Detroit shortstop Nike Goodrum.

Hernández walked two and both runners scored in the Tigers second. He walked Spencer Torkelson, the 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick, and Riley Greene back-to-back after a strikeout to start the inning. Then Christin Stewart lined an RBI single to right, leaving runners at first and third. A run scored on Dustin Garneau's groundout to third and it was 2-0. Derek Hill grounded out to end that frame.

So Hernández went two innings, allowing one hit and two runs with two walks and two strikeouts in his O's spring debut. Last year for the Atlanta Braves he pitched to a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 spring innings with 14 strikeouts.

Hernández opted out of the 2020 regular season last July due to COVID-19 concerns and he last pitched in a game on March 9, 2020 in spring training for Atlanta. There was some rust to knock off.

"Yeah, I felt real quick to the plate, like I was rushing the ball," he said. "I was opening myself too quick. But you know, every time and every day I keep working in my bullpens. And I'm going to be better at the end of the spring. I was just trying to throw strikes and throw all my pitches in the zone. I threw one slider today and three curveballs, that's it. Not even one changeup," he said.

The six-time All-Star and 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner is trying to make the Baltimore opening day rotation as a non-roster player that signed a minor league contract. He will earn $1 million if he makes the big league roster.

"The walks. I mean, I don't throw that many walks," he said. "I'm a guy that attacks the strike zone and goes after hitters. It's going to change after that."

Hernández said it was too soon to compare how he felt tonight to last spring, when he pitched well in four games for the Braves.

"Like I said, this was my first outing," he said. "But I'll be ready for my next one. It's going to better."

The Orioles trail the Tigers 2-0 in the eighth with just three singles in the game so far.

Right-hander Jorge López followed Hernández to the mound and pitched three scoreless innings on just one hit with three strikeouts. Hunter Harvey pitched a scoreless sixth and Cole Sulser a scoreless seventh for the Orioles.

It's a final: They played the full nine innings tonight as the Orioles lost 6-5 to Detroit. Down 6-0, the Birds scored three times in the last of the eighth. Jahmai Jones plated a run on an RBI grounder and Yusniel Diaz added a two-run double. Diaz has four RBIs to tie DJ Stewart for the club lead.

Leading 2-0, Detroit broke it open, scoring four times in the top of the eighth before the inning was halted and O's pitching had recorded just two outs. Lefty Zach Muckenhirn started the inning and walked the bases loaded with no outs. Two of the four Detroit runs in the inning scored on a two-run single by former O's farmhand Aderlin Rodriguez. He played at then-Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie between 2016 and 2018.

The O's put runners on second and third with no outs in the ninth on a Stevie Wilkerson single and Ryan McKenna's double. Both would score on Rylan Bannon's two-out, two-run single and they were within one run. Adley Rutschman then singled, but Jones was retired for the final out as the Tigers held on, stranding two.

The Orioles (2-4-1) will play the Pirates on Sunday afternoon in Bradenton, with left-hander John Means getting the start.