Orioles Use Eight Run Eighth to Pull Away from Tigers

The Baltimore Orioles downed the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards in the first game of the ALDS. A solid outing from Chris Tillman, four good innings from the bullpen, key home runs from Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy and a huge 8th inning led to a 12-3 victory.

Cruz started the scoring with a two run shot against Tigers starter Max Scherzer. Leadoff hitter Nick Markakis singled, and Alejandro de Aza was hit by a pitch. After Adam Jones bounced into a double play, Cruz blasted a first-pitch heater over the center field fence.

That lead wouldn’t last long for the Orioles, as Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back home runs to right field. In the bottom half of the inning, singles by Jonathan Schoop and Markakis brought home Ryan Flaherty, who reached on a walk.

The Orioles 3-2 lead remained stable until the bottom of the 7th when Hardy slammed a solo shot to lead off the inning. Tillman departed after five innings, having allowed the two home runs but only two other hits. He struck out six and walked one. Andrew Miller recorded five outs while notching three strikeouts. Darren O’Day allowed a solo home run to Miguel Cabrera, the fifth home run of the game, and the Tigers crept to within 4-3 going into the bottom of the 8th.

The O’s offense exploded in the bottom of the 8th. Markakis lined out, but De Aza doubled, chasing Scherzer. He worked 7.1 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Joba Chamberlain pitched to two hitters, with Jones reaching on a fielding error and Cruz singling to center. Joakim Soria allowed a single to Steve Pearce, intentionally walked Hardy before giving up a single to Flaherty, an RBI groundout to Nick Hundley and a two-run double to Schoop. Phil Coke walked Markakis and allowed another double to De Aza before finally ending the inning on a groundout by Jones.

After the O’s outburst, a 4-3 game became a 12-3 blowout. Closer Zach Britton, who got the final out in the 8th, was lifted in favor of Tommy Hunter who finished the game.

Friday’s game, which begins at noon, will feature Justin Verlander against Wei-Yin Chen. 2014 has been a rough year for Verlander, but he’s revved up the velocity in his last couple of outings. The Tigers better hope he can carry them, because their bullpen has been dismal all season long. After Thursday’s game, they would prefer not to ask too much of their much-maligned relief corps.