O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez faces Jordan Zimmermann in Detroit

DETROIT - Now with identical records of 76-64 after Detroit's 4-3 win last night, the Orioles and Tigers play tonight and will break that tie at Comerica Park.

Victor Martinez hit a 404-foot homer off Brad Brach in the eighth inning last night to break a 3-3 tie. The Orioles got a two-run homer from Jonathan Schoop and an RBI single from Adam Jones, but were held to five hits on the night in the loss. Jones went 2-for-3 and was the only player with a multi-hit game. In the Tampa Bay series, the Orioles scored 24 runs on 33 hits.

Detroit has hit 66 home runs in the seventh inning or later, which that ranks first in the American League. The Tigers have 11 go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later, second in the AL behind Texas.

After Toronto beat Boston 3-2 this afternoon, the Orioles begin this game 2 1/2 games of the AL East-leading Red Sox and 1 1/2 games behind Toronto. Tonight's winner here will move into sole possession of the lead for the second AL wild-card spot and will be one game back of Toronto for the first wild-card berth.

The Orioles turn to right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez tonight (6-11, 6.19 ERA) to try and get even in this series. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (9-5, 4.44 ERA) comes off the disabled list to make his 17th start for Detroit.

Jimenez moved back into the rotation when Chris Tillman was sidelined by a shoulder issue. In three starts in that spot, he is 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Over 21 2/3 innings, he has allowed 12 hits and seven runs with three walks and 13 strikeouts. Over his past four starts, his ERA is 2.70.

In 12 road games (10 starts), he is 2-7 with a 5.94 ERA. Jimenez has made one previous start this season versus the Tigers. On May 12 in Baltimore, he went five innings and yielded nine hits and five runs (four earned) on 105 pitches. He is 5-11 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 20 career starts against the Tigers. Jimenez is 2-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 10 career starts at Detroit.

The Tigers signed Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million free agent contract in December, but he has made just one start since June 30 due to a strained neck. That was Aug. 4 and he gave up six runs over 1 1/3 to the White Sox and went back on the DL.

He was activated on Tuesday after making three rehab starts at Triple-A Toledo. Over 12 1/3 innings, he gave up nine hits and two earned runs with two walks and eight strikeouts. In those games, he threw 39, 60 and 76 pitches.

Zimmermann's last start against the Orioles came on July 11, 2015, when he got the win for the Nationals by allowing four runs over five innings. In six career starts against Baltimore, he is 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA. In nine home starts for Detroit, Zimmermann is 5-4 with a 6.30 ERA.