The Baltimore Orioles edged the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the ALDS, earning a narrow 2-1 victory to complete the sweep and move on to the ALCS. They’ll face the winner of the Angels-Royals series, which could be over as soon as tonight if Kansas City is able to win at home.
The Orioles certainly did not look likely to sweep on paper, as the Tigers had lined up three Cy Young winners to neutralize one of baseball’s most potent offenses. While Detroit’s Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and David Price weren’t at their best, they also weren’t at their worst. Indeed, it was the Tigers’ bullpen that did them in, as the relief pitchers surrendered 10 earned runs over three games.
The Tigers threatened in the 9th inning, starting the inning with back-to-back doubles to cut the Orioles’ lead in half. After a strikeout, Orioles’ manager Buck Showlater made the gutsy decision to put the winning run on base in an attempt to force a series-ending double play, and closer Zach Britton did just that as he forced a grounder from the Tigers’ Hernan Perez that sent his team home for the winter.
