Tigers 5 , Orioles 3
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Prince Fielder hit two homers for four runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Friday night.
As heard on 97.1 The Ticket - Fielder hit a soaring shot to right in the eighth inning to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead. He got Detroit even at 3 in the sixth with a 462-foot shot to right-center.
Joaquin Benoit (2-3) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win. Jose Valverde gave up a leadoff double to Manny Machado in the ninth, then retired the next three Orioles for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
Darren O'Day (6-1) took the loss after J.C. Romero allowed Fielder - the first batter he faced - to hit his second homer of the game.
Miguel Cabrera, who scored on both of Fielder's homers, put the Tigers ahead 1-0 in the first inning with his 31st home run.
Nick Markakis hit a game-tying double in the third off Justin Verlander.
Baltimore scored two more runs off Detroit's ace, taking a 3-1 lead on Matt Wieters' 2-run homer in the fifth inning.
In the home half, Orioles manager Buck Showalter and first baseman Mark Reynolds were ejected. Showalter and Reynolds became upset after an overturned call put Detroit's Jhonny Peralta on first base after he was called out.
Machado made a throw that forced Reynolds to fully extend to catch the ball that was low and up the line, and the first baseman appeared to be pulled off the bag. Replays weren't conclusive.
First base umpire Jeff Kellogg called Peralta out. When the call was overturned, Reynolds slammed his glove and was tossed from the game. Showalter stormed out of the dugout and was also ejected.
Machado was charged with an error, but Detroit failed to capitalize.
Verlander, who has won only one of his last five starts, gave up six hits and four walks. He struck out six in six innings.
Baltimore starter Tommy Hunter allowed three runs, four hits and two walks over six innings. Hunter gave up two homers, increasing his season total to 29 - more than any pitcher in the majors this year.
The Tigers begin their home three-game series with a win over the Orioles and but still lag behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Get the latest scores for Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Pistons scores delivered daily to you from 97.1 for FREE. Simply text the keyword to the number and you're all set! Text SCORE to 97136. To unsubscribe anytime, reply STOP. Standard message charges apply.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
