Tigers 10, Orioles 3
BALTIMORE -- Detroit hit three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning, leading to the ejection of Baltimore Orioles starter Jason Hammel after he hit the next batter, and the Tigers cruised to a 10-3 victory on Saturday before an announced crowd of 38,945 at Orioles Park.
After Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila hit home runs for a 4-1 lead, Hammel hit Matt Tuiasosopo on the shoulder in the next at-bat and immediately was ejected by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.
Hammel and Orioles manager Buck Showalter argued the ejection and the Tigers did not retaliate by hitting an Orioles batter.
T.J. McFarland entered for the Orioles and allowed a single and then RBI double to Tuiasosopo. After loading the bases, McFarland gave up a grand slam to Miguel Cabrera for a 9-1 lead.
The Tigers tied a club record with four home runs in an inning and set a set a season high with five in a game. It was the first time the Orioles allowed that many home runs in an inning.
Detroit coasted the rest of the way behind ace Justin Verlander, who entered the game 7-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 11 career starts against the Orioles.
Verlander allowed three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and a walk in seven innings.
Prince Fielder also hit a home run for the Tigers. Tuiasosopo went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
J.J. Hardy hit two home runs for the Orioles and has 12 this season. It was the 10th multi-homer game of his career.
Hammel struggled for much of his short outing, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and a hit batter in three-plus innings. He took his second loss in his last four starts and fell to 7-3 this season.
Detroit opened a 1-0 lead in second on a two-out, RBI single Tuiasosopo that scored Victor Martinez, who walked.
Hardy tied the game when he led off the third with his 11th home run of the season.
Detroit broke open the game with eight runs in the fourth, when the Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate. Chris Davis picked up an RBI-single for the Orioles in the bottom half of that inning.
Fielder, however, boosted the lead to 10-3 with his 10th home run in the sixth.
Notes: Tigers 1B Prince Fielder had reached base safely the last eight times after a walk to Miguel Cabrera before flying out in the first inning on Saturday. ... Cabrera entered June batting .372 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs. He is the first player in major league history to be batting at least .340 with 15 or more home runs and 60 or more RBIs on June 1. ...Chris Davis' 19 home runs in May were second most by any Oriole in that month behind Brady Anderson, who had 20 in 1996. ... J.J. Hardy snapped an 0-11 skid with his home run in the third.
