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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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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.
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