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Detroit Tigers Open Grapefruit League Play with 15-2 Win over Baltimore Orioles

By Tom Zahari

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Mar 3, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) high fives catcher Alex Avila (13) after both scored as part of a seven-run second inning during a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The last time we saw the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers on the same field, the Orioles completed their 3 games weep of the Tigers. In the Grapefruit League Opener, the Tigers dominated the Orioles thanks to a bevy of baserunners from 7 walks and 4 hit batters from the Orioles’ staff.

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Kyle Lobstein and Ubaldo Jimenez got the starts for their respective clubs. Lobstein had a nice day surrendering no runs in 2 innings with two hits and a strikeout. Jiminez, on the other hand, had the wheels fall of in his second inning when the Tigers posted 7 runs.

Here is how that inning broke down:

  • Nick Castellanos was hit by a pitch
  • Tyler Collins walked, advancing Castellanos to 2nd
  • Jordan Lennerton singled, scoring Castellanos (Tigers lead 1-0)
  • Andrew Romine sacrifice bunted to Jimenez, but he made an error on the play loading the bases
  • Anthony Gose flew out to the left fielder. In that at bat, Jimines threw a wild pitch, scoring Collins and moving up the other runners (Tigers lead 2-0)
  • Rajai Davis singled, scoring Lennerton and Romine. Davis went to 2nd on the trow from David Lough the Orioles’ CF. (Tigers lead 4-0)
  • Avila was hit by a pitch, ending Jimenez’s day. Chris Jones entered the game for the O’s
  • Ian Kinsler hit a three run home run to center field (Tigers lead 7-0)

Jimenez’s final line was 1.1 IP, 2 hits, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K.

The Tigers had another offensive outburst in the 4th inning, thanks to more walks from the Orioles pitching staff. Gose led off the inning with a walk, Avila walked, Kinsler was hit by a pitch, and Yoenis Cespedes brought everyone home with a grand slam, giving the Tigers an 11-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Tigers added one more run with a single from Alex Wilson and a triple from Gose, extending the lead to 12-0 after 5.

They added three more runs in the 6th with their third home run of the day. Wade Gaynor was hit by a pitch with one out followed by a Tyler Collins Walk. Aaron Westlake, possibly competing with Lennerton to get a roster spot for opening day, hit a three run home run to put the Tigers up 15-0.

The scoring was done for the Tigers, but the Orioles added two runs in the 9th off of Alex Wilson who was acquired along with Cespedes from Boston in the offseason. Wilson surrendered three singles and a double in the inning to score two runs before the game ended 15-2. Even though this is only one appearance, it could hurt Wilson’s chance at getting the last bullpen spot for the Tigers on Opening Day.

The Tigers pitchers had a nice day, besides Wilson. Here’s a list of who pitched, the inning, and their final lines.

  • Kyle Lobstein innings 1 and 2: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
  • Alberto Cabrera 3rd inning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Tom Gorzelanny 4th inning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
  • Joe Nathan 5th inning: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • Josh Zeid 6th inning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
  • Luke Putkonen 7th Inning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
  • Rafael Dolis 8th Inning: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
  • Wilson 9th Inning: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

The Tigers will play the Orioles once again tomorrow at 1:05 in Sarasota, Florida at Ed Smith Stadium.

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