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 The Orioles did not hit any homers Thursday night, but they simply
strung a bunch of hits together over two innings and stunned the
Detroit Tigers.
Jonathan Schoop lined a two-run triple to cap a five-run seventh
inning, and Baltimore rallied from an early five-run deficit for its
fifth consecutive victory, a 7-5 decision over Detroit.
The Orioles showed they can do damage with small ball. They got
three hits and two runs in the sixth, then collected four
consecutive hits as part of a five-run, six-hit seventh while
turning a 5-0 deficit into the 7-5 lead.
Seven of the nine hits in that two-inning stretch were singles. No
homers, no problem.
"It was very unusual for us, but I'm proud of the way we've been
going about our at-bats and not just giving in or going up there and
hacking when we get down," said Chris Davis, who had two run-scoring
hits. "We're actually working the count trying to see some pitches
and take advantage of it."
Orioles manager Buck Showalter added: "We didn't hit one (homer)
tonight, did we? Just grinding through it."
 The Tigers took a 5-0 lead, the last two runs coming in the sixth
inning thanks to RBI singles from Miguel Cabrera and Victor
Martinez, before the Orioles rallied.
Davis (RBI double) and Schoop (RBI infield single) cut the lead to
5-2 in the sixth as Detroit starter Mike Pelfrey began to struggle
and then was pulled.
In the seventh, Adam Jones, Davis and Pedro Alvarez all had RBI
singles, tying the game at 5-5.
Schoop then followed Alvarez with his line drive into the right
field corner for the first triple of his major league career, and
the two-run hit off Justin Wilson (0-1) gave Baltimore the victory.
Schoop finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
"It's pretty nice," Schoop said. "I thought it was not going to
happen ever (hitting a triple). I was looking to hit the ball hard
somewhere. I was looking to get a good pitch to hit and hit the ball
hard, and hopefully it'd find a hole -- and it did."
Vance Worley (2-0) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief,
and Zach Britton earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth
inning.
The Tigers finished with 13 hits but wasted a number of scoring
chances. They left 12 on base, which gave the Orioles a chance to
stay close. The Detroit bullpen couldn't do the job, allowing five
runs on seven hits in just 2 2/3 innings.
"Any time we give up runs, it's tough," Wilson said about the
relievers.
Detroit's Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit the only homer of the game, a
solo shot in the fourth inning.
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The Tigers (15-19) lost for the ninth time in 10 games and for the
second game in a row.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead four batters into the game. J.D. Martinez
and Cabrera drew back-to-back-one-out walks off Baltimore starter
Ubaldo Jimenez before Victor Martinez followed with an RBI single.
The Tigers made it 3-0 with two more runs in the fourth.
Saltalamacchia led off by homering to right on a fly ball that
curled around the foul pole, and Cabrera later added an RBI
grounder.
The Orioles (21-12) were quiet until they threatened in the fifth,
putting two on with two outs. Pelfrey then struck out Joey Rickard
to end the inning and keep the lead at 3-0.
Pelfrey wound up allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Jimenez
surrendered five runs (four earned) in five-plus innings, but his
teammates rallied and got him off the hook.
For the Tigers, it was just another frustrating game.
"It seems like every day it's something different," Detroit manager
Brad Ausmus said. "We had missed opportunities, but we had a lead
and didn't hold it. Take your pick."
NOTES: Orioles manager Buck Showalter said SS J.J. Hardy, on the
disabled list (left foot fracture) would go to Sarasota, Fla., to do
some work when the team takes off on its road trip at the end of
next week. ... The Orioles banged out at least 10 hits in six of the
seven games they played vs. Detroit last year. Baltimore won the
season series, 4-3. ... The Tigers recalled OF Steven Moya from
Triple-A Toledo, where he had a .310 average with nine homers and 24
RBIs. They sent down LHP Blaine Hardy. ... Detroit OF Justin Upton
played his first career game in center field after 1,217 games in
the majors. Manager Brad Ausmus said if all goes well, Upton could
be back there Friday as Oriole Park is smaller than other places.
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