Tigers beat the Orioles 6-4 to inch closer in the AL wild-card race

BALTIMORE (AP) — Beau Brieske pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning, Riley Greene drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th and the Detroit Tigers inched closer in the AL wild-card chase by beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Saturday.

Detroit moved within a half-game of the Twins for the final American League playoff spot. Minnesota’s game at Boston was rained out and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Sunday.

The surging Tigers have won 10 of 13 to put themselves in surprise postseason contention after being under .500 a month ago.

“We’ve been battling for a long time now,” said shortstop Trey Sweeney, who made an acrobatic, game-saving catch in shallow left field in the ninth, tumbling over Greene and getting the wind knocked out of him. “I think everybody’s just confident in our lineup, in our staff and defense. Everybody’s confident in each other, and that’s what makes a good team.”

This one almost slipped away when closer Jason Foley allowed consecutive singles, a walk and a double to Gunnar Henderson that tied the score at 4 in the ninth. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch pulled Foley for Brieske (3-4), who induced a groundout, got big help from Sweeney and then ended the threat with a flyout to center.

Brieske called it “almost an out-of-body experience.”

“There wasn’t really a fear of blowing it because I couldn’t go in there with that mindset,” he said. “There was just a tunnel directly to the plate. I didn’t care. Honestly, I just didn’t care about the negative outcome.”

That clutch performance, followed by singles from Greene and Jace Jung and a sacrifice fly from Zach McKinstry off reliever Yennier Cano (4-3), quieted the Camden Yards crowd of nearly 40,000 that was ready to celebrate minutes earlier. Brieske got out of another jam in the 10th to seal it.

“It felt like the stakes were high and two teams really fighting to get into the postseason,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “A lot of benches emptied and a lot of bullpen guys used. It was a heck of a game. Unfortunately, we just didn’t finish it.”

Baltimore could have clinched a second consecutive trip to the postseason with a win and a Seattle loss later Saturday. Instead, that will have to wait until at least Sunday, and time is running out to catch the New York Yankees atop the AL East.

Detroit (81-74) is one victory from clinching a winning record this season, but the Tigers can legitimately think about the playoffs because of games like this.

“We had every range of emotion you can imagine given how the swings in that game from the very beginning were back and forth,” Hinch said. "If you believe in character wins, this is going to be at the top.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Rookie INF Colt Keith, who had a sacrifice fly in the eighth, did not start because of a banged-up right shoulder but could play the entire game in the field Sunday, Hinch said.

Orioles: CF Cedric Mullins was in the lineup after being out Friday because of neck tightness from a collision with Austin Slater in the outfield on Thursday. ... Hyde said 1B Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) and 3Bs Jordan Westburg (hand) and Ramon Urias (ankle) are “getting close” to returning.

UP NEXT

RHP Albert Suárez (8-6, 3.60 ERA) is set to pitch for the Orioles in the series finale. The Tigers had not announced a starter, though RHP Casey Mize (2-6, 4.36) would be on full rest.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers third baseman Matt Vierling throws to first base to put out Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, left, and starting pitcher Cade Povich, talk as they walk back to the dugout after the top of the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman, right, runs towards home on a single by Heston Kjerstad as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, waits for the ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. Rutschman was tagged out at the plate. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, right, tags out Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman, at home on a single by Heston Kjerstad during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brant Hurter throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler (38) slides into third base with a triple against Baltimore Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera, left, during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers' Trey Sweeney runs towards home to score on a triple by Dillon Dingler during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling slides home to score on a single by Riley Greene during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene dives towards home to score on a sacrifice fly by Zach McKinstry during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Beau Brieske, right, and catcher Dillon Dingler, celebrate after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Riley Leonard accounted for 297 yards of total offense and three touchdowns as No. 17 Notre Dame shook off a sluggish offensive start to beat Miami (Ohio) 28-3 on Saturday.

Leonard capped the Fighting Irish (3-1) scoring when he raced 50 yards up the middle for a score with 5:39 left in the game. He finished his day with 143 yards rushing on 12 carries with two touchdowns. Leonard connected on 12 of 25 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.

Haunted by off-target passes and penalties, Notre Dame found itself trailing 3-0 early in the second quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Miami's Dom Dzioban.

The Fighting Irish, who lost 16-14 to Northern Illinois in their previous home game, were booed by the crowd a couple of times during the first three drives as they twice went three-and-out and turned it over on downs.

“That’s part of the game, right? If you don’t do your job, people are going to boo you," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “But if you let that affect the way you go out and execute the next play, then, man, you’re not the right person for this job, or to be our quarterback at Notre Dame. So, I hope (Leonard) handled it the exact way that I would expect him to. What do you need to do to refocus, to go out the next play and get your job done?”

The Irish woke up offensively late in the half. Leonard, who said he blocked out the noise, marched the offense 87 yards in 10 plays and took the ball to the end zone on a zig-zagging eight-yard run with 3:33 left in the second quarter.

After a Miami punt, Notre Dame only needed 56 seconds to add to the lead. Leonard launched a perfect strike to Beaux Collins, who made an over-the-shoulder 38-yard touchdown catch with 1:05 left in the second quarter to give the Irish a 14-3 halftime lead.

Notre Dame finished with 270 yards rushing and 158 yards passing. Leonard credited the defense with keeping the game close early.

“I think obviously, with the way the defense plays, that takes a lot of pressure off us as an offense,” Leonard said. “We would go out there and maybe take risks and play freely, because we know we have such a great defense that will complement our game if we were to make a mistake. And then up front with the offensive line. I thought they did an outstanding job.”

Notre Dame fumbled and punted on its first two second-half possessions before a leaping interception by Christian Gray put the ball back in the hands of the Irish offense at their own 40. That set up Jeremiyah Love’s 15-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 21-3.

Notre Dame’s defense made sure the RedHawks (0-3) weren’t able to gain any separation after their early lead.

Junior Tuihalamaka picked off a Miami pass broken up by Gray to end a RedHawk threat that reached the Notre Dame 5 in the first quarter. Notre Dame also forced a turnover on downs at its 36 in the first.

In his first career start, defensive lineman Boubacar Traore had two sacks, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry — all in the first half.

Miami coach Chuck Martin was disappointed that his team let the early opportunities — especially the interception in the red zone — slip away.

“I really love the way we came out,” Martin said. "We had a chance. You play these games, you have to jump on them and take advantage of your opportunities.

"It should be a two-score advantage for us. They’re (Notre Dame) kind of sleepwalking through it a little bit. It’s hard if you’re at Notre Dame and you’re playing Miami of Ohio. Those kids didn’t get recruited by Miami of Ohio.”

One week after piling up 42 points in the first half in a 66-7 victory at Purdue, Notre Dame managed only 40 yards combined on its first three drives against Miami (Ohio). Notre Dame has work to do on establishing continuity on offense in order to push its way back into the College Football Playoff conversation.

Notre Dame will likely stay in the Top 20, but don’t expect a major jump after early struggles against a Miami team still in search of its first victory.

Notre Dame: Hosts No. 19 Louisville on Saturday, Sept. 28

Miami (Ohio): Hosts UMass on Saturday, Sept. 28

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Miami (Ohio) running back Kevin Davis (8) breaks a tackle by Notre Dame defensive back Benjamin Morrison (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)