Tigers hit four homers as O's lose 2011 road finale

The Detroit Tigers produced nine runs on four swings today in beating the Orioles 10-6 at Comerica Park as the clubs split a four-game series. It was the Orioles final road game of the year. They went 5-3 on this road trip and finish with a 30-51 road record. Brian Matusz gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings to take the loss, falling to 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA. He gave up a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera and a three-run shot to Victor Martinez in the fifth that broke a 3-3 tie. Don Kelly hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Brad Bergesen and Jhonny Peralta added a solo shot in the eighth off Chris Jakubauskas as the American League Central champs improved to 92-67.

Pedro Florimon came up with his first major league hit, a two-run double in the top of the fifth. Florimon becomes the eighth Oriole to get his first big league hit this year, a list that includes three pitchers. Joining Florimon are Ryan Adams, Matt Angle, Jake Arrieta, Zach Britton, Blake Davis, Kyle Hudson and Jakubauskas. Nolan Reimold hit a 434-foot, three-run homer in the eighth to cut a six-run deficit to 9-6. It was his 13th homer. Vlad Guerrero went without a hit in four at-bats today. He remains tied with Julio Franco for first in all-time hits by a Dominican-born player with 2,586 over 16 seasons. The Orioles fall to 13-12 in September, 12-7 in their last 19 games and 67-92 on the year. They return home to face Boston in the final series of the year. The Orioles are 4-2 in their last six games against the Red Sox. Monday's pitching matchup features Tommy Hunter (4-4, 4.86) against Josh Beckett (13-6, 2.70).