Orange Clash: Tigers’ New Gear Meets Orioles in a 4‑4 Spring Showdown

The Tigers kicked off their spring season in a bright orange uniform, but so did the visiting Orioles. At Publix Field in Lakeland, Florida, both teams wore similar colors that made it hard to tell who was batting and who was fielding. Despite the color confusion, the game ended in a 4‑4 tie, marking the Tigers’ first home exhibition after the change. Jack Flaherty made his first appearance in the new orange kit, pitching just one inning that lasted 18 pitches. He struck out Colton Cowser and let a wind‑assisted solo home run slip to Heston Kjerstad. “Playing in a game setting again gives me that adrenaline boost, ” Flaherty told reporters. “In just one inning, I’m focused on finding ways to get hitters out. ”He added that the feel of his arm and how the ball leaves his hand has improved since last year. “It’s a good spot to be in, ” he said, emphasizing that spring training should be about competition, not just practice. Offensively, veteran outfielder Austin Slater hit a homer in his first spring game as a non‑roster invitee. Rookie Max Clark tied the score with a two‑out single against former Tiger Andrew Magno in the ninth inning. Baltimore’s Pete Alonso added a home run off Tigers lefty Connor Pilkington, continuing his streak of homers in each of his first two spring games. The Tigers tightened up on the mound, walking only three batters—an improvement from the 11 walks issued in their opener on Saturday.