Gipson-Long pitches effectively and Torkelson homers as the Tigers beat the Orioles 5-3

BALTIMORE (AP) — Spencer Torkelson homered and Sawyer Gipson-Long pitched effectively out of the bullpen to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Zach McKinstry hit two triples for the Tigers, who have won 11 of 15 and own the best record in the majors at 44-24. Detroit is 4-0 against the Orioles this season, outscoring them 22-9.

Making his second start of the season as an opener for the Tigers, Brant Hurter allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. Chase Lee (3-0) got the last out in the third, and Gipson-Long entered in the fourth after Javier Báez hit an RBI single in the top half for a 2-1 lead.

Making his second appearance of the year after missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John and hip surgeries, Gipson-Long gave up one run and three hits with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Gipson-Long began the 2024 season on the IL with a groin strain. After just one rehab start, he underwent elbow surgery that April, followed by left hip surgery in July.

The 27-year-old right-hander finally returned to the big leagues last week, but did not get a decision against the White Sox.

Detroit scored five runs off Cade Povich (1-5) in the first five innings. The big blow was Torkelson's 16th homer, a drive to center with a man on that made it 5-1 in the fifth.

Will Vest worked the ninth and earned his 11th save despite allowing a solo homer to Jordan Westburg.

Povich retired the first two batters in the fifth before Riley Greene doubled, Dillon Dingler hit an RBI single and Torkelson went deep,

Detroit is 16-2 in its last 18 games against the AL East, its best mark since an 18-2 run against that division in 1973.

The series continues Wednesday night with Detroit RHP Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91 ERA) — who is 4-0 in seven starts since April 13 — going up against RHP Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA).

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

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday (7) slides into home plate to score on an RBI hit in by Gunnar Henderson during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cade Povich (37) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Brant Hurter (48) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry (39) reacts after scoring on a sacrifice fly hit in by Wenceel Perez during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)