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Hosmer's 3-run HR damages Tigers' chance at wild card

David Banks / Reuters

The Detroit Tigers entered play on Saturday a half-game up on the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot in the American League, but thanks to Eric Hosmer, their lead is no more.

Detroit entered the ninth inning of Saturday's contest with a 4-2 lead and handed the ball to closer Francisco Rodriguez, who was promptly lit up for five runs, highlighted by a three-run jack from the Kansas City Royals' first baseman.

With the blast, the 26-year-old Hosmer reached the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his six-year career.

It was the fifth blown save of K-Rod's season, and an especially costly one for the Tigers who fell into a tie with the Orioles for the final wild-card spot. Baltimore plays the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:05 p.m. ET.

"Frankie had an off day," manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com's Jason Beck. "He's going to have an off day from time to time."

Rodriguez was one strike away from ending the game in the ninth before Paulo Orlando hit a two-run, game-tying double to center field to extend the game.

"Painful. Disgusting. Shame. Everything. This one's on me, big time," Rodriguez told Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press when asked how he felt after blowing the save. "I let my team down today. Simple as that. I left everybody down. That's why I want to apologize to them and the fans."

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

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