Orioles 3 - 0 Tigers
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Jul 18, 2015 - 3:41 PM The All-Star break did nothing to help the Baltimore Orioles' sagging offense. A matchup with David Price figures to only make it worse.

Price looks to reach double-digit wins for the seventh straight season Saturday night when the Tigers and Orioles continue their three-game series at Comerica Park.

A 16-4 stretch through late June vaulted the Orioles (44-45) atop the AL East and primed to defend their division title. The offense cooled considerably, however, and they lost 10 of 13 before the break - batting .218 in that span - to drop to .500 and opened the second half with Friday's 7-3 loss.

''We were trying to create more opportunities, and we did that tonight,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said after his team was 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

The majors' top hitting team with runners in scoring position before the current slide, Baltimore has gone 8 for 95 (.084) in such situations during its 3-11 stretch and now faces Price, the five-time All-Star who went 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA in his final seven starts before the break.

Detroit (45-44) is 15-3 this season with its ace left-hander on the mound.

Price, who earned the win in Tuesday's All-Star Game with one scoreless inning, allowed two unearned runs and struck out eight over eight innings in a 4-2 victory at Minnesota on July 9.

''I didn't feel as good tonight as I have in my previous starts,'' Price said after beating the Twins. ''But I pitched deeper tonight. ... That's good when you can go out there and do that.''

Pitching deep against the Orioles has been an issue for Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA), who has completed more than six innings only once in his last six matchups. That came in Game 3 of the 2014 AL division series, when he allowed a two-run homer and four other hits over eight innings in a 2-1 loss.

Price is 7-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 18 starts against Baltimore despite winning once in his last seven meetings.

Matt Wieters has hit him well, going 15 for 41 (.366) with a home run and six doubles, while J.J. Hardy is 12 for 36 with five doubles.

Detroit ended a three-game skid Friday, taking control on Jose Iglesias' three-run homer in the fourth inning. Victor and J.D. Martinez also went deep for the Tigers, winners of four straight and six of seven in the regular season against the Orioles.

J.D. Martinez hit his 26th home run and Iglesias' was his second.

''That's why we have him - to hit homers,'' manager Brad Ausmus deadpanned.

When that comment was relayed to Iglesias, he played along.

''Yeah, he's right,'' Iglesias said. ''You're never looking for one. You just try to put some quality at-bats, put a good swing consistency, and eventually it's going to happen.''

Anthony Gose had two doubles to stretch his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games. He's 6 for 12 with a double and triple against Chris Tillman, who continued his resurgence in his final outing before the break.

The right-hander limited Washington to two runs over six innings, walked one and struck out six before the Orioles won 3-2 on a walkoff homer on July 10. Tillman (6-7, 5.40) remained unbeaten in seven starts since May 31 and is 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his past three.

He's 4-0 with a 3.59 ERA in seven starts against the Tigers after allowing two runs over five innings in a 12-3 victory in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Tigers rookie James McCann is batting .437 during an eight-game hitting streak.






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