Tigers beat Orioles 6-2 on June 12, 2025, as Tarik Skubal's dominance silenced Baltimore's bats. Adley Rutschman homered, but Dean Kremer struggled.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just 24 hours after a 10-run explosion that had Birdland buzzing, the Orioles were brought back to earth on Thursday. Detroit's ace Tarik Skubal was simply dominant, stifling the Baltimore bats in a 6-2 loss at Camden Yards that felt like a familiar dose of reality for the 25-38 club.
We're seeing guys step up, and that's what this group is about.
The hope from Wednesday's blowout win quickly faded as Tigers starter Tarik Skubal carved up the Orioles lineup. The lefty went seven strong innings, allowing just two runs and striking out eight. On the other side, Dean Kremer couldn't find his footing, surrendering five runs in 5.1 innings, with a two-run homer by Spencer Torkelson and a back-breaking, bases-clearing double from Riley Greene doing most of the damage. The only real offensive bright spots for Baltimore came from its cornerstones: an Adley Rutschman solo home run in the eighth and another multi-hit day for the team's hottest hitter, Gunnar Henderson.
The loss overshadowed the good news from earlier in the day when the Orioles officially activated Jordan Westburg from the injured list. His impact was felt immediately in the series, as he homered in his first two games back, including a three-run shot in Wednesday's win that the team's social media channels celebrated as a potential turning point. His return provides a much-needed jolt of power and energy to the infield. To make room on the roster, promising rookie Connor Norby was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, a move that gives Norby more consistent at-bats while solidifying the big-league lineup.
Despite the loss, there are still positives to build on. Gunnar Henderson continued his torrid pace, extending his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-for-4 performance. He's been the unwavering engine of this offense all season. Meanwhile, down on the farm, the future continues to knock loudly. Top prospect Heston Kjerstad launched his 14th home run for the Norfolk Tides, pushing his OPS to a staggering .950. With his performance, the question is no longer if Kjerstad will get the call, but when. It's this blend of present-day resilience, which interim manager Tony Mansolino praised pre-game, and future hope that will carry the team through this tough stretch.
While the loss stings, the Orioles leave the series with signs of life. The key now is finding consistency. With Henderson locked in, Westburg back in the fold, and firepower like Kjerstad waiting in the wings, the pieces are there. Now, it's about putting them all together, night in and night out, to turn these flashes of hope into a sustained winning streak.
