Hansen ends international career with another gold as Denmark wins men’s handball at Paris Olympics

VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ, France (AP) — Mikkel Hansen's international career ended with another Olympic gold medal as Denmark routed Germany 39-26 on Sunday to win the men's handball title at the Paris Games.

The three-time men’s world player of the year also won gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. He said a few months before the Paris Games that he would retire after these Olympics.

With his shoulder-length hair and trademark headband, the powerful left back has become one of the most familiar faces in Danish sports.

But Denmark hardly even needed the 36-year-old's shooting skills. He scored only two goals.

Mathias Gidsel of Denmark was the game’s top scorer, scoring 11 goals on only 13 shots at Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Juri Knorr netted six times for Germany, a bronze medalist in Rio.

It was much closer earlier on Sunday.

Aleix Gomez scored on all five of his shots as Spain edged Slovenia 23-22 for the bronze medal, matching its performance at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Jure Dolenec had six goals for Slovenia, which missed out on its first Olympic medal in men's or women's handball.

Norway won the women's gold on Saturday, beating France in the final, while Denmark took bronze with a victory against Sweden.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Slovenia players is dejected after the bronze medal handball match between Spain and Slovenia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Spain players celebrate their victory after the bronze medal handball match between Spain and Slovenia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Denmark's Mathias Gidsel is in action during the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Spain's Aleix Gomez is in action during the bronze medal handball match between Spain and Slovenia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Denmark players celebrate after a goal during the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Denmark's Mikkel Hansen, left, is in action during the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Denmark players celebrate their victory after the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Denmark's Mikkel Hansen is in action during the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Denmark players celebrate after a goal during the gold medal handball match between Germany and Denmark at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Colton Cowser hit his 21st and 22nd home runs, James McCann added his sixth and seventh and the Orioles went deep a season-high five times in a 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

With the win, the Orioles were 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East standings but moved to 3 1/2 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the top spot in the AL wild card.

Detroit dropped a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild card spot.

Anthony Santander contributed his 43rd round-tripper — his second in as many games — off Tigers opener Tyler Holton (7-2) as the Orioles won consecutive games for the first time in more than two weeks.

“We’ve played good baseball the last two days,” said Corbin Burnes (15-8), who pitched seven shutout innings for a second time in as many games against Detroit. "So now it's just about keeping it going and playing our baseball, and not worrying about what's going on (elsewhere)."

Burnes struck out eight, yielded three hits and three walks, and lowered his ERA to 2.95 as the Orioles opened a three-game set against one of baseball’s hottest teams. The Tigers had won their previous four and nine of their last 11 entering Friday.

Keider Montero struck out seven but yielded Baltimore’s final four homers over five innings of middle relief for the Tigers.

“I told him on the mound, ‘Keep your head high. You’re going to get the ball again in five or six days and you're going to help us win,'" Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said.

Trey Sweeney had a late RBI single for Detroit.

McCann’s second shot sailed into the Baltimore bullpen, where reliever Cionel Perez caught it with an outstretched cap — his sixth such feat this season. That completed Baltimore’s first game with multiple players hitting multiple homers since June of 2021, and brought its season total to 224.

“We haven't had homers in bunches like this in a while, and we did in the first half,” said Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde. “It was a fun night for us offensively."

Detroit played from behind from the start. A miscommunication between outfielders Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter gifted Gunnar Henderson a leadoff double.

Three batters later, Santander lined Holton’s 2-2 cutter just over the 398-foot sign in deep left-center to make it 2-0 and set in motion a comfortable victory after his walk-off shot decided Thursday's 5-3 win over San Francisco.

“With two outs, two strikes and he goes deep, that was ... honestly a turning point in the game,” Hyde said. “Getting Burnes with a lead there, a 2-0 lead right away.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Rookie 3B Colt Keith (right shoulder) returned to the lineup in the DH role after missing Tuesday's game. Manager A.J. Hinch said he could return to playing defense later this series, or in Detroit's next series at home against Tampa Bay.

Orioles: Activated LHP Danny Coulombe (left elbow surgery) from the 60-day injured list and placed RHP Burch Smith (right groin strain) on the 15-day injured list. Coulombe worked a scoreless eighth. ... Held out OF Cedric Mullins (neck discomfort) after his involvement in an outfield collision on Thursday. ... Sent 1B Ryan Mountcastle to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk.

UP NEXT

Orioles Rookie LHP Cade Povich (2-9. 5.74 ERA) tries to build on a promising September in which he's pitched to a 3.18 ERA over three starts. The Tigers send out another opener in RHP Reese Olson (4-8, 3.50).

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

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser, left, rounds the bases on his home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser, top, celebrates his home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game as Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers looks on, at bottom, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' James McCann, second from left, celebrates after his two-run home run with Gunnar Henderson (2) and Coby Mayo (16) as Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers., right, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' James McCann celebrates after his two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, left, tags out Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter, right, as he tried to steal second base during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser celebrates his home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' James McCann, right, celebrates his home run with Gunnar Henderson (2) during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' James McCann gestures as he celebrates his home run in front of Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) and home plate umpire CB Bucknor, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)