Orioles talk about their big 11-3 win over Detroit

DETROIT - On a night they needed a win, the Orioles got solid starting pitching and a leadoff homer, which started an evening that ended with four homers and a blowout victory.

One night after a tough 4-3 loss at Comerica Park, the visitors' clubhouse was alive with loud music after the Orioles' 11-3 victory.

Center fielder Adam Jones delivered the Orioles' sixth leadoff homer of the season on the game's first pitch from Jordan Zimmermann. Before the Orioles were through the lineup one time, they had three homers off the right-hander, who was making his first start since Aug. 4. It was a rude welcome back.

Matt Wieters homered twice - a two-run shot in the second and three-run blast in the sixth - for his sixth career multi-homer game and second of this season. He hit two on June 25 against Tampa Bay.

The Orioles led 3-1 after the first inning, 6-1 after the second and 8-2 after the fourth. They were on their way to a win that puts them one game ahead of the Tigers and Yankees for the second American League wild card and leaves them two games back of first-place Boston and one behind Toronto for the AL East lead. They are also one back of Toronto for the first wild-card spot.

After the game, manager Buck Showalter had plenty of praise for Jones, who is 5-for-8 in this series with two walks, a homer and three RBIs. He drove in the tie run in the eighth inning last night and provided a lead with his homer tonight.

"The cream always comes to the top, especially this time of year," Showalter said. "As long as I've had the honor of doing this, it doesn't sneak up on me, but it is a reminder that guys like Adam seem to find a way to show who they are at this time of year when you're in need. But Adam never changes. He's probably as consistent of a personality as you want to find, and I think that's why people like him. He doesn't have an off-day."

Jones talked about the first-pitch home run.

"Well, we were in a little bit of a delay, and I didn't want to delay the game anymore or delay the process of this game. I've been fined more than anybody in baseball by the league and Joe Garagiola and Mr. [(Joe) Torre (for taking too long to get into the batter's box), and I just felt like I needed to get in there and get something going on. I think since I've been leading off, I've been aggressive. I'm just trying to jump-start this team. Obviously, a big win for us. But the story of the day was Ubaldo (Jimenez)."

The right-hander certainly did his part. Staked to the big lead, he didn't waver. After a complete-game outing his last time out, he went seven innings tonight and gave up four hits and two runs to go to 7-11 with an ERA of 5.98.

Jimenez's last four starts were basically replacing the rotation spot of Chris Tillman, who returns to the Orioles on Sunday. Jimenez did a strong Tillman impression, notching an ERA of 2.83 in his stead.

"It feels great," Jimenez said of his recent contribution. "It feels great to finally be able to be there for the team, since it wasn't going the way I wanted it at first. That is the beauty of life and this game - every day is a new day. You can't give up and you have to find a way to keep fighting."

Showalter said he hasn't forgotten how far Jimenez has come from his early season struggles.

"I told the players the other day in a meeting, there's not a day that goes by that something doesn't happen that I just swell up with pride about the way they go about their business. They don't wallow around in self-pity. Their teammates are supportive of each other, and everybody is pulling for a guy like Ubaldo for the right reason. And he's been a good teammate and a good human being through thick and thin."

Wieters said hitting two homers was nice, but winning was better yet.

"It is big to get wins," he said. "It is nice to be able to hit homers and drive in runs, but if they don't come with wins at this point in the year, it doesn't really matter."

Now, the Orioles welcome Tillman back on Sunday as they try to win this series and leave Detroit leading in the race for the second wild card spot before heading to Boston.

"We're excited," Wieters said. "I know Tilly has worked hard to get back on the mound. And even though some other guys have been pitching well, we have always felt that Tilly is going to give us a chance to win each time he goes out there."