Tillman, Jones lead Orioles past Tigers 10-6 in first game of doubleheader

Orioles beat Tigers 10-6 in first game of DH

BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Adam Jones drove in four runs, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 10-6 Friday in the opener of a doubleheader.

Felix Pie and Craig Tatum each had three RBIs for the Orioles, who took control with a six-run fourth inning against Jeremy Bonderman (8-10). It was Baltimore’s 64th win of the season, tying last year’s mark with three games left.

The Orioles are 32-22 since manager Buck Showalter made his debut on Aug. 3.

Don Kelly homered and Will Rhymes had three hits for the Tigers, who were playing their second doubleheader in three days. Detroit (80-79) has lost four straight and must win at least once more to avoid a losing season.

Tillman (2-5) gave up one run, had a season-high seven strikeouts and walked two to earn his first win in six starts since July 10. That included a no-decision against Detroit on Sept. 12 in which the right-hander allowed one run and one hit in 6 2-3 innings.

It was a positive conclusion to an up-and-down season for Tillman, who began the season with Triple-A Norfolk and was recalled by Baltimore for a third time on Sept. 5.

Down 1-0 after being held hitless through three innings, the Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth against Bonderman, who fueled the uprising by hitting two batters and walking one.

After a bunt single, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, Pie smacked an RBI single off the right-field wall and Jones lined a three-run double inside the third-base line. Bonderman then hit Robert Andino with a pitch before Tatum doubled in two runs with a drive off the base of the center-field wall.

Pie chased Bonderman with a two-run triple in the fifth, and Jones greeted Eddie Bonine with an RBI single to make it 9-1.

Bonderman gave up a season-high nine earned runs.

Detroit scored four runs in the eighth off Mark Hendrickson, who yielded a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Raburn and an RBI single to Kelly. Jhonny Peralta drove in a run with a groundout against Matt Albers and Brennan Boesch added a run-scoring single.

Jones doubled and scored on a single by Tatum in the bottom half.

In the ninth, Rhymes tripled with two outs and scored on a single by Johnny Damon.

NOTES: The game was a makeup of Thursday night’s rainout. … Orioles 2B Brian Roberts missed a third straight game with headaches. … A squirrel ran onto the field in the seventh inning, and Detroit third base coach Gene Lamont waved the furry critter by third base and into the left-field corner. … Kelly’s second-inning homer snapped a 1-for-9 skid. … Asked to name his starter for Sunday’s season finale, Detroit manager Jim Leyland said, “It’ll definitely be a bullpen game. I don’t have anybody else to start.”