Detroit, MI (Sports Network) – Felix Pie and Cesar Izturis each drove in a pair of runs to back a strong effort from Jeremy Guthrie as Baltimore downed Detroit, 5-3, in the second contest of three at Comerica Park.
Ty Wigginton drove in the other run for the Orioles, who have won the first two games in the set and six of their last seven overall.
Guthrie (10-13) turned in seven scoreless innings, during which he scattered five hits while fanning four and walking one. Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save.
Jhonny Peralta struck a two-run double for the Tigers, who had won three in a row entering the series.
Max Scherzer (10-10) was charged in defeat for 12 hits and four runs with five strikeouts in six full frames.
Ahead just 4-3, the O’s scratched out a two-out insurance run in the ninth as Matt Wieters doubled, Adam Jones was given a free pass then Pie laced a single to center to score Wieters.
Uehara then closed the door in the ninth by retiring the side in order.
The Orioles snapped a scoreless tie with a four-run sixth. Jones led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch then scored on a Pie double. Josh Bell’s infield single followed ahead of an Izturis two-run triple. After Brian Roberts lined out, Wigginton narrowly missed a two-run homer but was able to plate Izturis with a sacrifice fly.
Detroit struck for three against Matt Albers in the eighth. Austin Jackson began with a single but was erased on a Johnny Damon fielder’s choice with one out. Miguel Cabrera then singled to put runners on the corners and Don Kelly followed with an RBI single. Peralta added a double to score two more but Brandon Inge lined out to end the threat.
Guthrie won his third straight decision and has garnered a positive result in six of his last eight starts dating back to August 3…The Tigers still lead the season series, 3-2, having swept Baltimore in a three-game set in Detroit from July 5-7.