Fri Jul 18 22:18:32 2008

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Scott leads HR parade as O's down Tigers

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Luke Scott belted two of Baltimore's four home runs in a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the second matchup of a four-game set at Camden Yards.

In his first career outing against the Tigers, Jeremy Guthrie (6-7) scattered 12 hits and two walks across six-plus innings to give up four runs while striking out five for Baltimore, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Scott was 2-for-4 with three RBI while Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora also went deep for the O's.

George Sherrill, who had blown three of his last five save opportunities entering the game, picked up his 29th save, second-best in the American League behind the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez.

Armando Galarraga (7-4) went 6 2/3 innings allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits while striking out six for the Tigers, who have lost four of their last six.

Ivan Rodriguez's 4-for-4 night included a home run while Curtis Granderson was 2-for-4 with an RBI double.

Mora's 13th homer and second in as many nights bounced off the top of the foul pole in left and scored Huff, who led off the sixth with a single, to claim the Baltimore lead for the third and final time at 5-4.

In the eighth, Scott cushioned the advantage with his 16th homer over the wall in right off Bobby Seay to score Mora, who walked with Scott in the on-deck circle.

Granderson singled to lead off the ninth, but was stranded as Placido Polanco and pinch-hitter Gary Sheffield grounded out before Sherrill struck out Magglio Ordonez.

In the home first, Adam Jones hit a pop fly just beyond the infield dirt in left field and hustled to second when shortstop Edgar Renteria failed to make the routine catch. He scored one batter later on an RBI double from Nick Markakis, whose line drive to left glanced off the glove of Matt Joyce and off the wall for a 1-0 lead.

Rodriguez's two-run homer, his fifth, scored Ordonez, who led off the second with a double, and gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.

Scott answered in the bottom of the inning with a one-out solo blast.

Guthrie pitched out of a jam in the third to keep the game tied when the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Brandon Inge singled and Granderson walked to start the inning before Guthrie threw Inge out on a force at third on a Polanco bunt. A bloop single to right by Joyce loaded the bases for Ordonez, who grounded into a 1-2-3 double play.

Huff's two-out round-tripper in the bottom of the inning, his 19th, gave Baltimore its second lead.

Detroit loaded the bases again in the fourth en route to a pair of runs and its second lead. Miguel Cabrera gave the Tigers their third lead-off hit in four innings with a single to left before Rodriguez and Renteria got consecutive base hits to fill the bags. Inge grounded into a fielder's choice to score Cabrera before a Granderson double brought Rodriguez home for a 4-3 lead.

Game Notes

Baltimore snapped a six-game losing streak against the Tigers...Despite the win, Baltimore has lost eight of its last 10...Ordonez extended his hitting streak to nine games...Detroit, which held a 14-9 advantage in hits, has 21 home runs in July.