Guts and Max (update, O's lead)

It's Jeremy Guthrie vs. Max Scherzer tonight at Detroit. It's 0-0 after four innings, but each team has had scoring chances and they have combined to leave 11 on base. The O's just loaded the bases on three singles with one out in the fourth, but Scherzer fanned Josh Bell and Cesar Izturis to end that threat. Scherzer is 4-3, 2.15 in 11 second-half starts. Guthrie has allowed five hits in four innings, but no runs to the Tigers so far. Detroit is 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and has left five men on base vs. the O's right-hander, two each in the second and third innings. Guthrie has thrown 72 pitches. Beginning tonight, Guthrie has an ERA of 3.89 after having a mark of 5.04 last year when he led the league in losses and homers allowed. The difference of 1.15 in ERA is the 5th best improvement in the Majors this year. Update: The O's bottom of the order has come through to produce four runs and give the O's a 4-0 lead in the 6th. After getting seven singles, but no runs, through five, the O's got two doubles and a triple vs. Scherzer. Adam Jones led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Felix Pie's double. After a Josh Bell infield single, Cesar Izturis ripped a two-run triple to right center for a 3-0 lead. With one out Ty Wigginton scored Izturis on a sac fly for a 4-0 edge. Center fielder Austin Jackson made a great running catch on the warning track to rob Wiggy of extra bases, but not an RBI. The O's, after starting the game 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, went 3 for 4 with RISP in the four-run 6th and they now have 12 hits in the game, 10 over the last three innings. Meanwhile, Potomac is beating Frederick 7-3 after six innings tonight in the Carolina League playoffs. Should the Keys lose the game, they will lose the series three games to one. Tyler Townsend has a two-run double for Frederick.