Orioles 6, Tigers 5
Matt Angle sacrificed in the winning run in the ninth as the Baltimore Orioles edged the host Detroit Tigers, 6-5, on Saturday.
Angle added his first career homer, and Mark Reynolds hit his 37th for the Orioles, who have won nine of their last 12 games - all against winning teams.
The Tigers knotted the game at 5 on Jhonny Peralta’s single in the eighth, getting Justin Verlander off the hook for what would have been his first loss since July 15. Making a bid to become the first pitcher since Bob Welch in 1990 to win at least 25 games, Verlander ran into trouble early.
The righthander allowed Angle’s homer leading off the game and got tagged with three runs in the second before falling behind 5-0 in the third, when Reynolds belted a solo homer into the Baltimore bullpen.
The Tigers would battle all the way back to tie, but Daniel Schlereth (2-2) allowed a leadoff single in the ninth to Chris Davis and sent pinch runner Kyle Hudson all the way to third on a wild pitch before Angle’s sacrifice plated him.
Pedro Strop (2-1) gained the win and Kevin Gregg picked up his 22nd save.
Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for Detroit, lifting his batting average to .339. He is one point behind Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez (.340) in the batting race.