Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Clete Thomas hit the game-winning homer with two outs in the ninth inning, as the Detroit Tigers edged the Baltimore Orioles, 6-5, in the opener of a four-game set from Comerica Park.
Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a homer and knocked in three runs for the Tigers, who have won two in a row. Placido Polanco andRamon Santiago also had an RBI each in the win.
Fernando Rodney (2-2) got the win after tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.
Brian Roberts had a solo homer for the O's, who have lost four in a row and 13 of 17 overall. Luke Scott had a two-run double, while Ty Wiggintonand Aubrey Huff had an RBI each in the setback.
Neither starter factored into the decision, as Justin Verlander gave up five runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts to one walk over eight frames.Chris Tillman, making his second major-league start, lasted six innings and was touched for five runs on seven hits.
With the game tied at five in the bottom of the ninth, Danys Baez (4-5) was on the mound trying to keep the game even. He gotCurtis Granderson looking at the third strike to lead off and Polanco to groundout, but Thomas took a 1-2 fastball over the fence in center to end the game.
"That was my first one ever, so I didn't know what to expect," Thomas said. "Even when I rounded first and saw it went out I was like, 'No Way.' So it was an awesome experience."
The Orioles got on the board in the first inning. Roberts led the game off with a homer to right-center field. Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones andNick Markakis followed with singles to load the bases before Huff grounded out to plate a run. Wigginton then offered an RBI double to left, and Scott stroked a two-run double to left field to make it 5-0. Matt Wieters flied out and Cesar Izturis grounded out to kill the rally.
"I thought we were going to get on to him but he was a different pitcher the second time around," Huff said of Verlander. "He was throwing 85-86 changeups, throwing 98 fastballs. There's very few guys in the league that throw like that. When you get five in the first inning you hope to win the game, it just didn't happen."
Granderson led the home half off with a triple and scored as Polanco followed with a double. Thomas then walked and Cabrera doubled for two runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Santiago had a two-out RBI single in the fourth to close it to 5-4, and Cabrera's two-out solo bomb to center in the fifth knotted the contest.
Game Notes: It was Thomas' first game-winning home run...These teams split a four-game series in Baltimore back in May. In their only visit to the Motor City last season, the Orioles won two of three meetings from the Tigers.