Jones, Wieters, help Orioles rout Tigers
DETROIT -- Adam Jones homered on the first pitch, Matt Wieters hit two homers and drove in five runs and the Baltimore Orioles pounded the Detroit Tigers 11-3 on Saturday at Comerica Park.
Jones had three hits and knocked in two runs for Baltimore, which moved a game ahead of Detroit in the race for the American League's second wild-card spot. Wieters notched his second multi-homer game of the season and sixth of his career.
Chris Davis supplied a two-run homer, his 36th of the season, in the first inning. The Orioles lead the majors with 224 home runs after their four-homer outburst.
Ubaldo Jiminez (7-11) won his second consecutive start, holding the Tigers to two runs on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann lasted just one-plus inning in his first start since coming off the 15-day disabled list. Zimmermann (9-6), who recovered from a neck strain, allowed six runs -- including three homers -- on four hits with three walks.
Wieters' second homer of the game, a three-run shot off Buck Farmer, gave Baltimore an 11-2 lead in the sixth.
Jones' fifth leadoff homer of the season set the tone for Zimmermann's abbreviated return. One out later, Davis drilled an opposite-field, two-run shot to make it 3-0.
The Tigers got one run back in the bottom of the first on J.D. Martinez's RBI single.
Zimmermann walked the leadoff man in the second and Wieters followed with his 13th homer of the season. Zimmermann then gave up a single and a walk before manager Brad Ausmus went to the bullpen. The Orioles added another run when Blaine Hardy threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
Jones' two-out RBI single in the third gave Baltimore a 7-1 lead. The Orioles tacked on another run in the fourth on Mark Trumbo's run-scoring double.
Detroit had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of that inning but only managed one run on Erick Aybar's groundout.
NOTES: Orioles RHP Chris Tillman will come off the 15-day disabled list and start the series finale on Sunday. Baltimore's ace hasn't pitched since Aug. 20 because of right shoulder bursitis. "I expect him to be a little rusty," manager Buck Showalter said. ... Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop started his 141st consecutive game, the second-longest active streak behind Kansas City's Alcides Escobar (149). ... Detroit will start LHP Daniel Norris, LHP Matt Boyd and RHP Anibal Sanchez for the first three contests of a four-game series against Minnesota that begins on Monday. ... Detroit DH Victor Martinez's game-deciding home run in the eighth inning on Friday was the 12th go-ahead home run of his career in the eighth inning or later. He's had three such blasts this season. ... Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said rookie RHP Michael Fulmer will have his next start pushed back but didn't offer a timetable. Fulmer pitched seven innings in Friday's 4-3 win.