Kenley Jansen blows save on walk-off HR in Game 1; Tigers lose 8th straight The Detroit Tigers extended their losing streak to eight games after a dramatic collapse in the ninth inning of Game 1 against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, May 24, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Tigers fell to a 5-3 decision as right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen failed to protect a 2-1 lead, surrendering a walk-off three-run home run to Colton Cowser. The loss marked the team’s 16th defeat in 18 games, deepening their struggles in a challenging season. The game began with the Tigers holding a 2-1 advantage entering the final three innings, thanks to a strong performance from left-hander Framber Valdez. The 32-year-old, signed to a three-year, $115 million free-agent contract, pitched six innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five. Valdez, known for his ground-ball tendencies, navigated several flyouts to the warning track but managed to keep the Orioles in check. His effort was highlighted by a solo home run from Gunnar Henderson, who hit a hanging curveball for a sixth-inning solo shot. Despite the Orioles’ 92 mph exit velocity on 15 balls in play, Valdez’s control and command kept the Tigers in the game. The Tigers’ offensive push began in the fourth inning, when they capitalized on a defensive error by Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso. After Brandon Young retired the first eight batters, Zack Short led off the third with a double, setting the stage for a rally. Kevin McGonigle reached on a leadoff single, and Dillon Dingler’s flare toward Alonso created a pivotal moment. Alonso, attempting to force out McGonigle, let the ball drop near first base, allowing runners to reach second and third.#detroit_tigers #baltimore_orioles #framber_valdez #kenley_jansen #colton_cowser
Nathaniel Lowe hits 2nd homer of the game for Reds walk-off win CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Reds secured a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, with Nathaniel Lowe delivering the game-winning home run in the ninth inning. Lowe, who entered the game as the designated hitter after Eugenio Suárez was scratched with a left oblique injury, hit his first two home runs as a Red during the contest. His second homer was a walk-off shot against Kenley Jansen, sealing the win for the Reds. The Reds, who had won six of their last seven games and eight of their last 10, extended their winning streak. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz had driven much of the team’s success in the first month of the season, but contributions from other players emerged during a recent 5-1 road trip through Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Manager Terry Francona praised the team’s depth, stating, “If we start getting contributions from all over the map, that’ll really help us.” Lowe’s first two home runs came after the Reds trailed 5-0 through four innings. Matt McLain, who had struggled earlier in the season, sparked a comeback with a two-run homer in the fifth inning against Tigers starter Framber Valdez. In the sixth, Lowe hit a 2-1 cutter into the right-field seats for a Statcast-projected 438-foot shot, making it a two-run game. Showers forced a one-hour, 49-minute rain delay after the third out of the sixth inning. Instead of the planned postgame fireworks show, the Reds set them off during the delay to fill the time. The long break did not stop Cincinnati’s momentum. In the seventh, reliever Will Vest walked the leadoff batter, Dane Myers. In a full count, McLain jumped on a fastball that was up over the inner-half of the plate for the game-tying two-run homer.#cincinnati_reds #terry_francona #nathaniel_lowe #detriot_tigers #kenley_jansen
