Tillman, Bourn lift Orioles to series win over Tigers
DETROIT -- Chris Tillman threw six strong innings in his return from the disabled list and Michael Bourn added a two-run home run to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the rubber match of a crucial three-game series at Comerica Park.
The Orioles (78-64) entered Detroit on Friday a game ahead of the Tigers (76-66) for the final wild-card spot in the American League. They left two games up after winning the final two contests of the series.
After going on the disabled list for shoulder bursitis, Tillman outdueled Tigers ace Justin Verlander on the latter's home turf, allowing just one run on four hits in six innings to earn the victory.
Verlander picked a bad time to have his first non-quality start since July 7, yielding three runs and seven hits in five innings.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-run home run with two outs by Bourn, who deposited a fastball from Verlander over the 365-foot sign in right field.
After an easy first two innings, Verlander started to labor in the third, giving up a double to Orioles' No. 9 hitter Caleb Joseph, the home run to Bourn, a single to Manny Machado and a walk to Chris Davis.
Verlander ended up getting out of the jam when he picked off Machado at second base.
The Orioles then got to Verlander again in the fourth when Jonathan Schoop blasted a solo home run to left that gave Baltimore a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Ian Kinsler laced a two-out single to right to score Justin Upton and cut Baltimore's lead to 3-1.
Detroit had a golden opportunity in the eighth when Miguel Cabrera came up with runners on first and second with one out, but the slugger grounded into an inning-ending double play to cap off an 0-for-9 series at the plate.
Orioles closer Zach Britton improved to 41-for-41 in save situations by closing the game out with a scoreless ninth inning, in the process taking over as the saves leader in the American League.
NOTES: By virtue of their 11-3 win on Saturday, the Orioles clinched the season series with the Tigers, which could prove to be an important achievement. If the Orioles and Tigers played a one-game playoff to decide a wild-card spot, Baltimore would host based on winning the season series. ... With a series against the team that was behind them in the wild-card standings behind them, the Orioles next will play a three-game series at Boston, the team in front of Baltimore for the first wild-card spot. ... On Saturday night, Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera drew his 1,000th career walk, in the process becoming the 118th player in major league history to record the milestone. ... The Tigers next have a four-game homestand against Minnesota, a team they are 10-2 against this season.