O's get the early lead in Detroit (Tigers lead)

A Chris Davis RBI single in the top of the first has given the Orioles the early 1-0 lead today. It was Davis' third RBI of the series and season.

David Lough drew a leadoff walk from Rick Porcello and stole second on the first pitch to Nelson Cruz. Lough is now 2-for-2 on steal attempts. Davis then dumped a single into left along the line and was thrown out trying to stretch that into a double after Lough scored.

After the O's scored first, Bud Norris achieved an O's pitching first for this season. He became the first O's starter to record a 1-2-3 inning, ending the first with a strikeout of Miguel Cabrera on the inning's 13th pitch.

In two starts last season against Detroit, Norris went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, giving up nine runs over 12 innings. Both of those starts were with Houston before Norris was traded to the Orioles.

The Orioles have earned their 1-3 start so far. They've been outscored by 10 runs and they rank near the bottom of the American League at this early stage in some team stats categories.

* Runs - tied for 14th with 11
* Batting average - 13th at .214
* OBP - 15th at .259
* Slugging - 15th at .298
* Team ERA - 12th at 5.40
* Starters' ERA - 14th at 7.20

The Single-A Frederick Keys have announced that Frederick native Branden Kline will be the starting pitcher for their home opener at Harry Grove Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Orioles' second-round draft pick in 2012, Kline got the opening night start for Frederick on Thursday. He got the win at Lynchburg, going five innings and giving up seven hits and one run with no walks and four strikeouts. Kline is the Orioles' No. 20 prospect according to Baseball America.

Update: The O's lead lasted until the last of the third when Torii Hunter ripped a bases-loaded double down the left field line to plate all three runners for a 3-1 Tigers lead. It scored Alex Gonzalez, Don Kelly and Ian Kinsler, who had singled. Norris had faced the minimum six hitters over the first two innings throwing 20 of his 25 pitches for strikes, but the Tigers got to him in the third. J.J. Hardy saved a fourth run from scoring with a diving stop to his backhand to get the last out of the inning. Norris threw 32 pitches in that inning.

Update II: The Orioles trail 3-1 after four and a half innings. Nick Markakis and Hardy led off the second with singles but Matt Wieters grounded into a double play and Steve Lombardozzi flied out. Porcello has retired 11 of the last 12 batters he's faced through the fifth. Meanwhile, Norris threw 55 pitches over the third and fourth innings after 25 in those first two frames.

Update III: It got worse for Norris in the last of the fifth when Hunter hit a two-run homer. Hunter has five RBIs and the Tigers lead 5-1. In this series, Hunter is 5-for-7 with two homers and six RBI's.

Norris is at 103 pitches and, since Chris Tillman gave up one run opening day, O's starters have allowed 20 runs and five homers their last 20 innings.