Tigers swept by Orioles

10/2/2010

Jeremy Guthrie allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, Nick Markakis homered, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 last night for a doubleheader sweep.

In the opener, Chris Tillman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Adam Jones drove in four runs to lead the Orioles to a 10-6 victory.

It was the second time in three days that Detroit was swept in a doubleheader; Cleveland did it Wednesday. The Tigers (80-80) have lost five straight and must win at least once this weekend to avoid a losing season.

Robert Andino had four hits in the nightcap for the Orioles, who have won three in a row to improve to 33-22 since manager Buck Showalter made his debut on Aug. 3. With its first doubleheader sweep since June 2006, Baltimore reached the 65-win mark — one more than it had last year.

Guthrie (11-14) struck out five, walked one and permitted only one runner past first base. The right-hander went 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 starts after the All-Star break. Koji Uehara yielded a two-out solo homer by Don Kelly in the ninth.

Rick Porcello (10-12) gave up two runs and 12 hits in 61/3 innings. Bidding to win his sixth straight decision, Porcello fell behind when Markakis opened the third by driving an 0-2 pitch into the right-field seats.

Baltimore made it 2-0 in the seventh, chasing Porcello on singles by Andino, Brandon Snyder, and Julio Lugo.