Davis Hits 20th Homer As Orioles Rally Past Tigers
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 20th homer to ignite a three-run seventh inning, and the Baltimore Orioles got a strong pitching performance from rookie Kevin Gausman in a 4-2 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
Nate McLouth drove in the go-ahead run for the Orioles, who took two of three from Detroit. Baltimore also rallied on Friday after trailing by two runs in the ninth.
Prince Fielder homered and scored both runs for the Tigers, who have lost five of six. Rick Porcello (2-3) absorbed his first loss in seven starts since April 20.
Gausman pitched six impressive innings. He struck out Miguel Cabrera and got the Tigers star to hit into a pair of double plays.
Brian Matusz (2-0) got the win despite giving up a run in the seventh, Darren O'Day worked the eighth and Jim Johnson got three outs for his 18th save.
Porcello was working on a three-hitter and took a 2-0 lead into the seventh before things unraveled.
After Davis homered, Chris Dickerson singled and took third on a single by J.J. Hardy. Phil Coke entered and gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Danny Valencia. Two batters later, McLouth grounded a broken-bat single up the middle to bring home pinch-runner Alexi Casilla for a 3-2 lead.
Doubles by Davis and Casilla against Darren Downs in the eighth made it 4-2.
Making his third major league start, Gausman displayed the form that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft.
The right-hander went six innings, allowing one run and five hits, striking out four and walking none over six innings.
Gausman came in with an 11.00 ERA after yielding seven runs in four innings at Washington on Tuesday.
In his home debut, the 22-year-old retired the last six batters he faced, ending the outing by slipping a third strike past Cabrera.
Matusz came in to start the seventh and promptly gave up a double to Fielder, who came around to score on singles by Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta.
Early on, Porcello and Gausman locked in an engaging pitcher's duel. Gausman had just gotten Cabrera to hit into a second double play in the fourth inning when Fielder drove a 3-0 pitch into the right-field seats.
Peralta led off the Detroit fifth with a single, took second on a wild pitch and reached third on a groundout. With the infield in, Gausman retired Ramon Santiago on a bouncer to first base before Avisail Garcia grounded out.
NOTES: Baltimore turned a season-high four double plays. ... Baltimore's Adam Jones went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. ... The Tigers acquired 3B Francisco Martinez from Seattle for player to be named or cash. The Tigers then optioned Martinez to Class A Lakeland. To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Quintin Berry was designated for assignment. ... McLouth stole second base in the third inning, his 19th steal in 20 attempts this year. He's 31 for 33 since the start of the 2012 season. ... Baltimore and Detroit both have Monday off. The Orioles resume play in Houston on Tuesday, and the Tigers host Tampa Bay. ... Baltimore pinch-hitters were 1 for 18 before Valencia delivered in the seventh. Valencia's only other hit as a pinch-hitter came in 2010. ... It was the eighth time Detroit has lost when leading after six innings.
AP-WF-06-02-13 2111GMT
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