Stunning rally: O's score four in eighth to beat Detroit, take 2-0 ALDS lead
It was an amazing and stirring comeback win.
Last night the Orioles used the eighth inning to pull away. Today they produced a remarkable comeback win in the same inning.
Delmon Young's pinch-hit, three-run double to left off Joakim Soria turned a 6-4 deficit into a 7-6 lead and the Orioles beat Detroit in front of another frenzied sellout crowd at Camden Yards.
It was an amazing comeback by the Orioles who take a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series. The last 13 teams with a 2-0 lead went on to advance.
For the second day in a row, the Orioles batters got to the Tigers much-maligned bullpen. They've scored 12 runs in the eighth inning in the first two games.
The O's went to the eighth down 6-3 and Joba Chamberlain came on. With one out, Chamberlain hit Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz singled. A Steve Pearce RBI single pulled the Orioles to within 6-4 and Soria came on.
After a walk to J.J. Hardy loaded the bases, 
Young hit for Ryan Flaherty and ripped the first pitch to left to unload the bases. His three-run double put the Orioles ahead, 7-6.
Young is now 11-for-21 (.524) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBIs as a pinch-hitter on the season.
Like last night, the O's scored first today. Jonathan Schoop singled with two outs in the third and scored on a Nick Markakis two-run homer for a 2-0 lead.
Markakis hit a 95 mph Justin Verlander fastball for his first career postseason homer. The ball just made it to the roof of the grounds crew shed in right-center and was confirmed as a homer after a crew chief review.
Then, Detroit's offense flexed its muscles. Quiet for three innings, the potent Tigers offense erupted quickly for five runs in the top of the fourth off Wei-Yin Chen to take a 5-2 lead.
Torii Hunter singled and Miguel Cabrera doubled to start it. A Victor Martinez RBI single made it 2-1. J.D. Martinez then delivered a game-turning, three-run homer to left for a 4-2 lead. It was his second homer of the series. He hit an 82 mph slider on the first pitch from Chen.
Nick Castellanos followed with another homer, this one to right field as Detroit went back-to-back for the second game in a row. Chen got the next two outs, but a single followed and Kevin Gausman came on.
Chen went just 3 2/3 innings, his second shortest outing of the season, allowing seven hits and five runs. He threw 57 pitches. He tied his season high allowing five runs for the third time in 32 starts.
In the Orioles fourth, J.J. Hardy's RBI single cut Detroit's lead to 5-3 but it grew to 6-3 on a Victor Martinez RBI double in the eighth.
That set the stage for the O's to come up in their half of the eighth down three and leave that inning up by one.
Brad Brach got the last two outs of the eighth to get the win and Zach Britton retired the Tigers in order in the ninth on 11 pitches to record a save.
Gausman gave the Orioles a strong relief outing to keep them in the game. Over 3 2/3 innings, he allowed three hits and one run with one walk and five strikeouts. He showed some high 90s heat to throw the ball past several hitters.
Now this series shifts to Detroit after a travel day on Saturday. In Game 3 on Sunday at 3:45 p.m., Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) pitches against left-hander David Price (15-12, 3.26 ERA).
The Orioles will have a chance for a three-game series sweep and to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1997.
Young hit for Ryan Flaherty and ripped the first pitch to left to unload the bases. His three-run double put the Orioles ahead, 7-6.
Young is now 11-for-21 (.524) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBIs as a pinch-hitter on the season.
Like last night, the O's scored first today. Jonathan Schoop singled with two outs in the third and scored on a Nick Markakis two-run homer for a 2-0 lead.
Markakis hit a 95 mph Justin Verlander fastball for his first career postseason homer. The ball just made it to the roof of the grounds crew shed in right-center and was confirmed as a homer after a crew chief review.
Then, Detroit's offense flexed its muscles. Quiet for three innings, the potent Tigers offense erupted quickly for five runs in the top of the fourth off Wei-Yin Chen to take a 5-2 lead.
Torii Hunter singled and Miguel Cabrera doubled to start it. A Victor Martinez RBI single made it 2-1. J.D. Martinez then delivered a game-turning, three-run homer to left for a 4-2 lead. It was his second homer of the series. He hit an 82 mph slider on the first pitch from Chen.
Nick Castellanos followed with another homer, this one to right field as Detroit went back-to-back for the second game in a row. Chen got the next two outs, but a single followed and Kevin Gausman came on.
Chen went just 3 2/3 innings, his second shortest outing of the season, allowing seven hits and five runs. He threw 57 pitches. He tied his season high allowing five runs for the third time in 32 starts.
In the Orioles fourth, J.J. Hardy's RBI single cut Detroit's lead to 5-3 but it grew to 6-3 on a Victor Martinez RBI double in the eighth.
That set the stage for the O's to come up in their half of the eighth down three and leave that inning up by one.
Brad Brach got the last two outs of the eighth to get the win and Zach Britton retired the Tigers in order in the ninth on 11 pitches to record a save.
Gausman gave the Orioles a strong relief outing to keep them in the game. Over 3 2/3 innings, he allowed three hits and one run with one walk and five strikeouts. He showed some high 90s heat to throw the ball past several hitters.
Now this series shifts to Detroit after a travel day on Saturday. In Game 3 on Sunday at 3:45 p.m., Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) pitches against left-hander David Price (15-12, 3.26 ERA).
The Orioles will have a chance for a three-game series sweep and to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1997.
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