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Mora, Scott power Orioles to rout of Tigers

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:07 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Melvin Mora and Luke Scott each homered twice Sunday, powering the Baltimore Orioles to a 16-8 rout of the Detroit Tigers.

Mora connected for a solo home run in the fourth inning to snap a 5-5 tie and added a two-run blast in the eighth for his 20th homer of the season.

The third baseman finished with five hits and a career-high six RBI to pace a 22-hit attack. It was the most hits in a game for Baltimore since they had 22 on July 22, 2006, at Tampa Bay. The Orioles, winners of four of their last five games, have scored in double digits in three of their last four games.

"It was one of those days that make you really happy," Mora said. "To be able to just crush the ball against a team like Detroit is really something.

Mora had two chances to hit for the cycle, needing a triple, but doubled and homered in his last two at-bats.

"I just feel real confident when I go up to the plate," Mora said. "I know that every time up I'm going to put the ball in play and then we will see what happens."

Scott hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Orioles a 9-5 lead and later clubbed a solo shot in the seventh inning for his 21st home run.

Fernando Cabrera (2-1) pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.

The Orioles also got a home run from Aubrey Huff, a two-run shot in the fifth inning, to take the rubber game of a three-game series.

"This was an unbelievable game," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "I'm going to get a tape and play it over and over during the winter. A game like this really raises your spirits.

"Our team is so together right now. Nothing seems to bother them. They are running on all cylinders, they never give up."

Neither starter lasted long, as the Orioles jumped out to a 4-0 lead off Detroit righthander Zach Miner in the first inning. Miner was making his sixth start for the Tigers since joining the rotation after the All-Star break and had boasted a 3-1 mark in those starts with a 2.15 ERA.

Miner departed with one out in the second inning, allowing five runs and six hits while walking four.

"I felt good. Nothing different than normal," Miner said. "It was just one of those days. Made some pitches, they got a couple hits, they got a couple more hits and then it was kind of over before you even realize it's started. Nothing different than usual. Obviously, the result was not good."

Miner's counterpart, Garrett Olson, did not fare much better, leaving with two outs in the second after surrendering five runs and four hits along with three walks.

Casey Fossum (2-1) relieved Miner and took the loss after pitching two innings. He was tagged for four runs and three hits, including homers to Mora and Scott.

"Everything we threw up there, they hit it hard," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We came back. But when you let them put up three four-spots within the first four, five innings, eventually it takes the wind out of your sails."

Nick Markakis added three hits while Huff and Kevin Millar each drove in a pair of runs for the Orioles.

Edgar Renteria had four hits for the Tigers, who concluded a 4-6 homestand and fell to 5-11 in August.

"It's just one of those days. It happens," Leyland said. "It was a total wipeout day for our pitchers that we pitched today. Tough, tough day for all of them."