• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Home runs help Tigers power past Orioles

Jul 18, 2008 - 3:26 AM By Sean Burns PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- After big preseason expectations cooled with a pedestrian first half, the Detroit Tigers rolled to a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday at Camden Yards in the first game after the All-Star break.

Detroit scored all but one of its runs off homers - including blasts by Gary Sheffield, Brandon Inge and Marcus Thames.

Inge blasted a two-run homer in the sixth off Baltimore starter Garrett Olson (6-5) to overcome the Orioles' 4-3 advantage, and Thames followed with a solo shot in the seventh for an insurance run.

"I was just trying to put it in play," Inge said. "I was thinking either slider or changeup, (Olson) surprised me with that changeup, but he probably did me a favor."

Tigers starter Kenny Rogers (7-6) allowed four runs and 11 hits in six innings while walking two and striking out one. Four relievers bridged the gap to closer Todd Jones, who loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before surrendering just one run en route to his 18th save.

"We got ourselves into a little bit of trouble there, but we got out of it," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "(Baltimore) is a very versatile offensive club. Righties, lefties, switch-hitter in (Brian) Roberts - they're good, but we held on and got a good win."

After Sheffield's sixth home run of the season gave Detroit an early 2-0 lead, Baltimore recorded four straight hits to tie the game in the home half. Rogers got out of the jam, however, when Melvin Mora was thrown out at home trying to score off a force-out at second and Brandon Fahey grounded out.

"Inge made a heck of a play ... and when Melvin hesitated now he played right into Inge's hand," said Orioles manager David Trembley, who also saw Nick Markakis get tagged out when he got hung up between first and second after Aubrey Huff's flyout in the third. "It seems like there is indecision there ... if you're going to go, go. But if you stop, don't try to start again."

Two innings later, the Orioles took a 5-4 lead on Mora's 12th home run of the season - a solo shot - and loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Jay Payton and Fahey plus a walk by Roberts. Rogers, however, ended the threat by striking out Adam Jones.

"I was making pretty good pitches, but I did make some mistakes," said Rogers, who was the beneficiary of several great defensive plays behind him. "No doubt, that (defense) is what's got to happen when I'm out there...I think (Baltimore) also made some mistakes, running into double plays, but I'm always happy with a win."

Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez went 1-for-5 in his first game back off the disabled list, knocking a single in the sixth inning.

Sheffield, who entered the game hitting just .217 on the year, was robbed of a second home run in the eighth. He lifted a pitch over the wall in left, only to have it brought back on a spectacular play by a leaping Payton.