Jack Flaherty gives up rockets to Orioles in 7-1 Tigers loss in spring training

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost, 7-1, to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Detroit is 9-10-3 in Grapefruit League play.

"Crappy day," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

What happened

The wind was blowing out, but that’s not why the Orioles scored six against Jack Flaherty, who got the start.

The Orioles crushed him.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jake Flaherty throws live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

Flaherty pitched into the fifth inning, throwing 79 pitches, but didn’t record an out before he was pulled. He gave up seven hits, six earned runs and had a wild pitch.

"He got into the fifth, which is important, just from an endurance standpoint, but he didn't have command, and wasn't really executing consistently," Hinch said.

Four of those Baltimore hits had more than a 103 mph exit velocity. In short, the Orioles hit rockets off Flaherty, who did have six strikeouts, but walked a pair.

Starting off

Javy Báez got his second start at third base.

“Is there a scenario where Baez actually gets a lot of time there?” a reporter asked Hinch.

“I don't know,” Hinch said before the game. “And I'm okay not knowing right now, you're seeing the same group of guys that we've that we've always played there. So we plan to sort it out, as the season gets underway. So, I guess the short answer is, we'll see, and the long answer is, we haven't even named our team yet for me to know who I'm choosing from.”

Baez is still learning the nuances of the position.

In the third inning Creed Willems hit a pop up toward the dugout and it bounced between Baez and catcher Jake Rogers.

At the plate

Detroit Tigers outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy bats against Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League game at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

Hinch is more worried about hard contact than batting averages; and Justyn-Henry Malloy blasted a ball to center that was caught at the warning track.

It had a 102.7 mph exit velocity and traveled 404 feet.

“Camp is going great,” said Malloy, fighting for one of the last spots on the roster. "Being able to kind of take this time and build the bond with the group is incredibly important. And then obviously the baseball side, it's really good. Just trying to be a sponge.”

Riley Greene had the best day at the plate, getting a couple singles, lifting his batting average to .323 this spring.

Gleyber Torres was scratched from the starting lineup with a right quad contusion; and Andy Ibáñez took his place. Ibáñez promptly doubled and scored on a Kerry Carpenter single. And Ibáñez also picked up a walk.

And Spencer Torkelson, who has had an outstanding camp, got another single.

On the mound

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch hugs pitcher Jake Flaherty during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.

Jackson Holliday hit a game-opening triple against Flaherty, and Hinch brought his infield in.

But Dylan Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to Riley Greene in center, and Holliday jogged home without a play at the plate. Yes, Greene is getting some time in center, just in case Hinch needs him out there during the season, but he won’t be out there full time.

Flaherty got into trouble again in the third inning — two on and one out. And Dylan Carlson crushed a double, one-hopping the right-field fence, driving in both runs.

On the next at bat, Heston Kjerstad jacked a double to right and Baltimore had a 4-0 lead.

"I think the changeup was better today, which is a good sign," Hinch said. "They stacked the whole lineup with lefties. He got to work on that a little bit. Just wasn't a great day. It wasn't a great day."

Three stars

Greene. 2. Ibanez. 3. Torkelson.

Next up: Pittsburgh

Monday (1:05 p.m., TV) vs. Pittsburgh in Lakeland, Fla.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' Jack Flaherty gives up rockets to Orioles in spring training

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