Báez sparks Tigers’ rout in shutout of faltering A’s

Javier Báez had a two-run single in the first inning, All-Star Michael Lorenzen combined with three relievers on a four-hitter and the Tigers routed the Athletics, 9-0, Thursday at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Jake Marisnick homered and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who pitched their fifth shutout of the season.

“This was a good bounce-back from the boys,” Marisnick said. “I think we did a good job of sticking to an approach, which let us grind out some at-bats,”

Oakland has been blanked 10 times and was held to four hits or fewer for the 16th time.

Lorenzen (3-6) allowed three hits in five innings, struck out four and walked none, throwing only 60 pitches.

“This felt good,” he said. “I’ve been working a lot of pitching with two strikes — trying not to throw the ball down the middle — and that was good today.”

Tyler Holton, Brendan White, and Chasen Shreve followed.

“We felt pretty good with a 7-0 lead, and we wanted to send Michael off to Seattle on a good note,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “We had a rested bullpen for what seems like the first time all year, and their lineup worked well for us to get him out of the game.”

Hinch also rested Báez for the last two innings on an afternoon with a game-time temperature of 83.

“He got on base four times, including a walk, so that was his reward,” Hinch said.

Oakland had won four of five, outscoring the Tigers, 13-3, in the first two games of the series. The A’s are 31-6 (.838) against Detriot since the start of the 2017 season, including 19-3 at Comerica Park. At 25-64 overall this year, Oakland is on pace to finish 46-116, the most losses since the 2003 Tigers went 43-119.

The A’s will next head to Boston to open a three-game weekend series against the Red Sox Friday night at Fenway Park.

Henderson, Orioles rout Yankees

Gunnar Henderson set career highs with two homers, four hits and five RBIs — all in the first four innings — and the Orioles routed Luis Severino and the host Yankees, 14-1.

Henderson hit his first leadoff homer before the Orioles sent 21 batters to the plate in the third and fourth innings, opening a 13-0 lead with 11 hits, three walks and one hit batter.

Baltimore scored its most runs since a 15-10 win over the Red Sox last Aug. 19 and had 20 hits, its high since 21 in an 18-5 victory over the Guardians on June 6, 2021. Ryan O’Hearn had three hits and four RBIs and Cedric Mullins hit a two-run double for the Orioles, who won their second straight to gain a four-game split.

Springer, Bichette rally Blue Jays

George Springer and Bo Bichette each hit RBI singles during Toronto’s six-run 11th inning, and the Blue Jays beat the host White Sox, 6-2, in the opener of a doubleheader. Toronto had just one hit before breaking through against Aaron Bummer. Jordan Romano worked the 10th for the win. Chicago wasted a stellar performance by Lance Lynn, who struck out 11 in seven dominant innings. The White Sox finished with four hits in their fourth loss in five games.

Senzel does damage for Reds

On the heels of his game-saving leaping catch at the right field fence that robbed CJ Abrams of a likely game-winning RBI hit in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Senzel slugged a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning for the Reds’ fifth consecutive win — their eighth in the past nine games — in a 5-4 triumph over the host Nationals.

The first-place Reds, now 10 games over .500 at 49-39, secured their league-leading 32nd comefrom-behind win. Joey Votto lined a tying RBI single to right field that tied it, 3-3, in the ninth inning.

Righthanded reliever Tony Santillan picked up the win after he entered the ninth and threw a scoreless inning of one-hit relief. Righthander Alexis Diaz earned his 25th save of the season after allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout in the 10th inning, inducing Keibert Ruiz to line out to center for the game-ending out.

Arenado, Flaherty lift Cardinals

Nolan Arenado homered, Jack Flaherty pitched shutout ball for his second straight start and the Cardinals beat the host Marlins, 3-0, to avoid a series sweep. Two were one-run defeats, including a 10-9 walkoff loss Wednesday night. Flaherty (6-5) struck out five, walked two, and allowed nine hits.

Schwarber, Turner lead Phillies

Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner had RBI singles in the 11th inning and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the host Rays with a 3-1 victory that took Tampa Bay’s losing streak to a season-high five games. Schwarber had a goahead hit from one knee against Ryan Thompson (1-2), the eighth Tampa Bay pitcher on a bullpen day, and Turner followed with another single. Matt Strahm (3-3) worked two innings for Philadelphia, which has won 12 straight road games, one shy of the team record set in 1976.