Wieters’ late sacrifice fly helps Baltimore Orioles beat Detroit Tigers 6-3

Wieters helps Orioles beat Tigers 6-3

DETROIT — Matt Wieters hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, atoning for an earlier error, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 on Friday night.

The game marked the reunion of Tigers starter Armando Galarraga and umpire Jim Joyce. It was the first time they had been involved in the same game since Joyce’s missed call with two out in the ninth cost Galarraga a perfect game on June 2.

Joyce, who worked the plate, was applauded by the Comerica Park crowd when he was announced before the game. But that was the only sign anything unusual was happening. Neither Joyce nor Galarraga spoke before the game, and both had downplayed the situation earlier in the week.

Galarraga allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings. Any hope for another run at perfection ended quickly — Luke Scott hit a leadoff single in the second for Baltimore.

The Orioles broke it open against Detroit’s bullpen. Phil Coke (7-5) came in to pitch the eighth and was struck on his right ankle by Ty Wigginton’s one-out liner, which went into foul territory near first for an infield hit. Nick Markakis followed with a single to center, and Wigginton took third when Austin Jackson misplayed the ball.

After Markakis took second on a wild pitch, Scott was intentionally walked and Wieters followed with a fly ball to right, giving the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Adam Jones added an RBI single off Robbie Weinhardt.

Brian Roberts hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to make it 6-3 and Koji Uehara got three outs in the bottom half for his eighth save.

Miguel Cabrera hit his 34th homer and drove in three runs for the Tigers, who finished with 10 hits. Jackson went 3 for 5 and scored a run.

Cabrera gave Detroit the lead with an RBI double off Kevin Millwood in the first, and the Orioles tied it in the second when Adam Jones grounded into a double play with runners on the corners.

Jake Fox hit a two-run homer for Baltimore in the fifth but Cabrera responded with a two-run shot of his own in the bottom half. Wieters missed Johnny Damon’s foul popup a few feet away from home plate, and Damon walked before Cabrera’s tying shot.

Millwood allowed three runs, two earned, and eight hits in six innings.

NOTES: The Tigers announced before the game that 2B Carlos Guillen would have exploratory knee surgery on Sept. 17 and will miss the rest of the season. Guillen has been out since injuring his left knee while turning a game-ending double play against the Yankees on Aug. 16. … Joyce said before the game that he had been told by Major League Baseball that he wasn’t allowed to speak to the media without a request being sent through league headquarters. … Brandon Snyder made his major league debut, playing first base in the ninth inning for the Orioles.