Orioles facing another early deficit (O's lose 6-1)

Last night was the exception. The Orioles are off to another slow start today against the Tigers.

Once again, the Orioles are behind in the first inning. The saving grace is the Tigers' bullpen. No lead is really safe.

J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer off Ubaldo Jimenez after Jose Iglesias singled and Ian Kinsler walked with one out. Jimenez grooved a 1-2 pitch down the middle of the plate, and the ball landed in the Orioles bullpen.

Martinez exited last night's game after fouling a ball off his left leg. He's a fast healer.

The Tigers are fast starters. They've held 7-0, 6-0 and 3-0 leads in three games of this series.

Jimenez was lucky that he only gave up three runs and two hits in the inning. Adam Jones made nice running catches on the warning track to deny Anthony Gose and Victor Martinez.

Even the outs were loud.

Jimenez threw 25 pitches in the inning.

Jimmy Paredes is serving as the designated hitter today against Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris. Paredes, a switch-hitter, is batting .297/.328/.473 vs. right-handers and .255/.300/.319 vs. southpaws. All 10 of his home runs have come from the left side of the plate.

Steve Pearce would have been in today's lineup if not for the strained left oblique muscle that forced him on the disabled list. He flew down to Sarasota today with Mike Wright (strained left calf), but he may not be ready for baseball activities this week.

"That was just probably an uneducated guess," said manager Buck Showalter. "That was probably more wishful thinking than anything. There's just no way to get a grip on it. I think Brady (Anderson) may go down there. The work they did with Jonathan (Schoop) kind of sped that up by seven or 10 days.

"Talked to Steve, and the track record of those injuries. When you get the MRI, you get a pretty good idea with the way it lights up how severe it is or isn't. His isn't severe where you go, 'I don't know when he'll be back,' but it's tough to put a timetable on it. I've got a couple dates thrown at me that I hope it's earlier than.

"We miss him. A day like today."

Wright, Tyler Wilson and Zach Davies have been removed from Triple-A Norfolk's rotation since Friday. Wright was recalled Friday before injuring his calf, Wilson will start for the Orioles on Monday after being placed on the taxi squad today and Davies was traded to the Brewers for outfielder Gerardo Parra.

"We have really been unkind to Norfolk the last few days," Showalter said. "I was talking to Dan (Duquette) today. They're addressing that. It's tough."

Update: Chris Davis hit a solo home run in the fourth to reduce Detroit's lead to 3-1.

Davis has 26 home runs and 72 RBIs, same totals as last season in 127 games. Today marks his 102nd.

Jimenez has retired 10 in a row since the Martinez home run. Flashbacks to his last outing.

Update II: Jimenez lasted only 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs and six hits, with one walk, two strikeouts and a home run. He threw 88 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Jorge Rondon replaced him and became the 1,001st player to appear in a game for the Orioles.

Jimenez retired 12 in a row before Rajai Davis' soft double to right field with two outs in the fifth. Nolan Reimold's throw back to the infield nailed Jonathan Schoop, who was shaken up but stayed in the game. Anthony Gose followed with an RBI single after Davis took third on the error, and he scored on Jose Iglesias' triple.

Jones broke in on the ball and it sailed over his head as he retreated.

Iglesias scored on Ian Kinsler's single into right field, and Showalter came out of the dugout before the ball got back to the infield.

Update III: Game over. The Orioles lose to the Tigers 6-1 and split the four-game series.

Rondon worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits. He's expected to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk when Tyler Wilson is recalled to make Monday night's start in Oakland.

The Orioles are 53-51. They went 5-2 on the homestand.