Final
Tigers streak into Baltimore
Jul 13, 2012 - 2:55 PMVideo
Picked by most to run away with the American League Central this season, the Tigers find themselves in third place, 3 1/2 games back of the Chicago White Sox for the division lead.
"We know what we got to do," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We got a big grind ahead of us and I look forward to that. It's a nice challenge. I see some signs of some good things [but] we're not over the hump."
A big reason why so many people were high on the Tigers at the start of the season was the free agent signing of first baseman Prince Fielder, who comes into tonight's contest on the heels of winning his second Home Run Derby crown.
Fielder, who has never played at Camden Yards, is second to Miguel Cabrera on the team with 15 homers and 63 RBI. He totaled 28 home runs over three rounds to win Monday's Home Run Derby in Kansas City. He had the four longest drives of the night, including a pair at 476 feet.
Tonight, the Tigers turn to righty Doug Fister, who endured an injury-plagued first half and was just 2-6 with a 4.75 ERA. He was even worse on the road, where he was 0-4 in six starts, while pitching to a 4.89 ERA.
Fister has faced the Orioles four times and is 2-1 with a 4.68 ERA.
While the Tigers were one of the bigger disappointments in the league in the first half, the Orioles were perhaps the biggest surprise in the AL. Baltimore was in first place for a good part of the first two months and went into the break five games over .500 at 45-40.
The Orioles, though, come into tonight's tilt having lost nine of their last 13 games, it's the first time the team is over the break-even mark at the break since 2005. Baltimore, of course, has had 14 straight losing seasons.
"The story's yet to be written," manager Buck Showalter said. "The season's not over. It's an unfinished story. I mean, everybody this time of year knows they've done some things good and some things that they've got to do better at."
A big reason for that success was the play of right-hander Jason Hammel, who was one of the best pitchers in the AL in the first half, but lost his final three starts.
Hammel was 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA after tossing eight scoreless innings to beat the Washington Nationals on June 22. However, he gave up 15 runs in losing his next three starts and went into the break sporting a 3.47 ERA.
"He's given us a chance to win pretty much every time out," Showalter said. "We couldn't ask for more, and knowing Hamm, he's not going to take any feel- good from that. He pitched as well as any guy can for the most part."
Baltimore hopes to have outfielder Nick Markakis in the lineup tonight. Markakis last played on May 29 and is recovering from right wrist surgery.
The Orioles split their 10 games with the Tigers last season.
- DETROIT: 7
BALTIMORE: 2
Final
Jul 13 10:09 PM - Chris Davis grounded out to first. On the play, Matt Wieters advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and Mark Reynolds due up.
Tigers 7, Orioles 2 Bot 9, 2 OutsJul 13 10:07 PM - Jhonny Peralta two-out, three-run Home Run (6) to right scored Delmon Young and Brennan Boesch. Alex Avila due up.
Tigers 7, Orioles 1 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 13 8:38 PM - Dana Eveland enters the game for the Orioles with none on and one out.
Tigers 4, Orioles 1 Top 5, 1 OutJul 13 8:30 PM - Ryan Raburn double to left scored Alex Avila with two out. Runner on second with two outs and Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 3, Orioles 1 Top 4, 2 OutsJul 13 8:16 PM - Nick Markakis ground-rule double to center scored Wilson Betemit with two out. Runner on second with two outs and J.J. Hardy due up.
Tigers 2, Orioles 1 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 13 7:58 PM - Brennan Boesch single to right scored Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera with two out. On the play, Prince Fielder advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Jhonny Peralta due up.
Tigers 2, Orioles 0 Top 1, 2 OutsJul 13 7:17 PM - DETROIT: 0
BALTIMORE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 13 7:08 PM
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