Detroit Tigers’ Zack Short, Akil Baddoo hit homers in 5-1 win over Orioles

Evan Petzold

| Detroit Free Press

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LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 5-1, on Sunday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Tigers improved to 7-6 in Grapefruit League play.

What happened

Right-hander Spencer Turnbull dominated through four innings, allowing only one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Although there were a few hard-hit balls against him, he worked efficiently — 17 pitches for six outs — in the first two innings. Left-hander Daniel Norris pitched three scoreless innings. The Tigers scored in the second inning, when JaCoby Jones grounded out to second base, allowing Wilson Ramos to score. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Zack Short crushed a three-run homer to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Two batters later, Rule 5 draft pick Akil Baddoo increased the edge with a solo home run.

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Starting off

Turnbull got four strikeouts — Steve Wilkerson (looking, fastball), Adley Rutschman (swinging, fastball), Yolmer Sanchez (swinging, changeup) and, with runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Rutschman again with a 95.5 mph fastball. He got help in the third from Robbie Grossman, who threw out Ryan McKenna trying to score on Austin Wynns’ single to right field. Turnbull got eight swings-and-misses and 10 called strikes. His four-seam fastball recorded four whiffs and seven called strikes, and his two-seamer reached 96.4 mph. He used three curveballs and three changeups. The lone run allowed by Turnbull came on a ground-rule double from Ramos Urias in the fourth inning.

At the plate

Short and Baddoo stole the show with homers in the eighth inning, and there wasn’t much offense elsewhere. The Tigers recorded just six hits, striking out nine times. They drew four walks: Jeimer Candelario, Jonathan Schoop, Wilson Ramos and Jacob Robson. Schoop made his spring training debut as the designated hitter. In addition to the walk, he was hitless in two at-bats. Ramos and Victor Reyes — who made a diving play in center field — each picked up one hit. Top prospect Spencer Torkelson struck out in his lone at bat. Leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Jake Rogers, pushing for the backup catcher job, flied out to left field in his only chance.

On the mound

Of Norris’ 29 pitches across three innings, he used his four-seam fastball (14 times), changeup (eight) and slider (seven). He got one strikeout without allowing a walk. His only blemish was a Ryan Mountcastle double. Norris’ fastball averaged 93.5 mph and maxed out at 94.7 mph. Left-hander Gregory Soto — with his 98 mph fastball on display — and righty Jose Cisnero pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Soto pumped in one strikeout, while Cisnero got two punchouts.

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