Tigers 6, Orioles 1
BALTIMORE -- Daniel Norris allowed just one run over 7 1/3 innings in his Detroit debut, J.D. Martinez homered and the Tigers breezed past the Baltimore Orioles 6-1, earning a split of the four-game series Sunday.
Baltimore finished its homestand at 5-2 and remains within striking distance for one of the two American League wild card playoff spots.
Norris (2-1), who was acquired from the Blue Jays in exchange for ace David Price at the non-waiver trade deadline, gave the Tigers hope for the future. He gave up four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Norris started five games for the Blue Jays this season where went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
Martinez had a pair of hits, including his 29th home run as the Tigers won for the fourth time in 10 games.
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hit his team-leading 27th homer of the season. He has homered seven times in his past 12 games and also leads the team with 72 RBIs. Shortstop J.J. Hardy went 0-for-3, snapping his season-high 15-game hitting streak.
Baltimore right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (8-7) could not overcome a shaky start. He allowed six runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk over 4 2/3 innings.
Martinez gave the Tigers an early 3-0 lead on a two-out, three-run homer in the first. It was the third time in the four-game series the Orioles trailed in the opening inning.
Norris cruised through the Orioles' lineup before Davis drilled a 1-2 pitch over the right-center field fence to cut the margin to 3-1.
After allowing the homer, Jimenez returned 12 straight batters before left fielder Rajai Davis doubled with two outs in the fifth. Davis took third when Baltimore right fielder Nolan Reimold hit second baseman Jonathan Schoop in the leg with the throw. That proved costly as center fielder Anthony Gose followed with an RBI single, increasing the lead to 4-1.
Gose stole second and third before scoring on a triple by shortstop Jose Iglesias. Second baseman Ian Kinsler followed with a single to right and the Tigers led 6-1, ending a tough day for Jimenez.
NOTES: Orioles RHP Tyler Wilson will travel with the team to Oakland and make his second start of the season if RHP Chris Tillman (left ankle sprain) is unable to pitch. Tillman could be pushed back to Friday. ... Tigers RF J.D Martinez returned to the lineup after leaving the game in the third inning Saturday when he fouled a ball off his left knee. ... Baltimore OF Steve Pearce (strained left oblique) traveled to the team's minor league facility in Sarasota, Fla., to continue his rehab. He could resume baseball activities this week.