• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Orioles bounce back to take series from Tigers

Apr 8, 2011 - 5:44 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Adam Jones hit a two-run home run and knocked in three, and Mark Reynolds' two-run double fueled a five-run seventh as Baltimore pushed past Detroit, 9-5, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Camden Yards.

Vladimir Guerrero added a solo shot and two RBI for the Orioles, who have opened their season with five wins in six games for the first time since 2008.

Jim Johnson (1-0) fanned three and allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings.

"I have not glanced at a stat sheet or the board about batting average," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We played five games and one of the great things with players with track records, if their health is there, they're more than likely going to be somewhere around that track record."

Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch each posted two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Tigers, who have lost four of six to begin the year.

Brad Thomas (0-1) allowed the deciding run without retiring a batter in the seventh.

Jackson's RBI double in the top of the seventh put the Tigers ahead 5-4, but the Orioles struck back in the home half to take the lead for good.

Thomas began the frame by allowing a Brian Roberts single and walk to Nick Markakis before giving way to Enrique Gonzalez. He fanned Derrek Lee, but Guerrero singled in a run and both runners advanced on an error.

Luke Scott was given a free pass, and a Jones sacrifice fly plated Markakis with the go-ahead run before Reynolds scored two with a double to left. Daniel Schlereth came in only to walk Matt Wieters and allow another RBI hit, this time to Cesar Izturis for a 9-5 game.

Johnson escaped the eighth unscathed after working out of a two-on, one-out jam. Koji Uehara had an easier time in the ninth, retiring the side in order.

"We just couldn't get that timely hit when we needed it," Jackson said.

Run-scoring hits by Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez staked the Tigers to a 2-0 lead in the first, but Guerrero's leadoff homer and an RBI single from Reynolds tied the game in the second.

Avila homered to start the fifth and Boesch later contributed an RBI double for a 4-2 contest, but Jones struck back in the home sixth with his two-run shot.

Game Notes

Baltimore, which has won both its series thus far in 2011, didn't win two series until mid-May last year...Prior to the game, the Tigers placed pitcher Ryan Perry on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5, with an eye infection and recalled pitcher Robbie Weinhardt from Triple-A Toledo.