Tigers, Orioles Wrap Up Series At Camden Yards
(Sports Network) - Justin Verlander appears to be back in form and he will try to help the Detroit Tigers earn a split of a four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles, as the teams wrap up the series today at Camden Yards.Verlander, who won 35 games over the prior two seasons, got off to a slow start this year, but has regained his form of late. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA over his last seven outings following a dismal 1-7 start to the 2008 campaign. In his last appearance on July 13, Verlander limited the Minnesota Twins to just two earned runs and four hits over seven innings of a 4-2 triumph. He struck out eight and walked two in picking up his third straight victory. Verlander, who is just 2-5 with a 4.86 ERA in eight road starts this season, has made two career starts against the Orioles, going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Brian Burres will counter for Baltimore and he is looking to win his fourth straight decision. The left-hander was last on the hill on July 11, when he limited the Boston Red Sox to three earned runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 victory. At home this season, Burres is 4-2 in 10 appearances, including nine starts, but he has a lofty 6.02 ERA over that span. He has made just one career appearance in relief against the Tigers. On Saturday, Luke Scott smacked a game-winning solo home run with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to cap a remarkable 11-10 comeback win for the Orioles. Scott finished 3-for-5 with two RBI as the Orioles, who gave up six runs in the first inning, recorded their 30th come-from-behind victory of the season and second straight win overall. Melvin Mora went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, while Ramon Hernandez also knocked in three and tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Scott's heroics made a winner of George Sherrill (3-4), who tossed a shaky 10th. Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera withstood a horrific start, surrendering seven runs -- six earned -- on five hits and five walks in five frames. Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs, while Jeff Larish ripped a two- run shot for Detroit, which has dropped five of its last seven affairs. Placido Polanco went 4-for-6 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored in defeat. Nate Robertson was credited with allowing seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 frames, his shortest outing of the season. Joel Zumaya blew his first save, and Freddy Dolsi (1-4) was saddled with the loss due to serving up Scott's blast. Detroit has won six of the last eight meetings with Baltimore.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.







