BALTIMORE (AP) — Jordan Lyles threw the second complete game of his career, Kyle Stowers homered and drove in three runs, and the Baltimore Orioles avoided their first-ever season sweep by the Detroit Tigers with an 8-1 victory on Wednesday night.
Rookie Gunnar Henderson and two hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who snapped a nine-game losing streak to Detroit dating to last season. Baltimore moved within 4 1/2 games of Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race.
Lyles (11-11) allowed one run with three hits with six strikeouts and no walks with 94 pitches. His previous complete game occurred on Sept. 30, 2012, for Houston against Milwaukee.
The Orioles took their first lead of the season against the Tigers — 3-0 in the third — when second baseman Harold Castro couldn’t handle a sharp grounder by Adley Rutschman that scored Ramón Urías. Henderson followed with an RBI single and Ryan Mountcastle had a sacrifice fly off starter Matt Manning.
Entering the night, the Orioles had scored five runs in five games against Detroit and were 1-for-26 with runners in scoring position.
Stowers boosted the lead to 5-0 with a two-run shot in the sixth off Manning (2-3). It was the rookie’s second homer in the majors.
Lyles retired 14 consecutive batters before allowing a solo homer to Kerry Carpenter in the seventh. Carpenter has six homers in 28 games.
Manning allowed five runs, three earned, with four strikeouts and a career-tying-high five walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Stowers, Rutschman and Robinson Chirinos added RBI singles in the eighth for Baltimore.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: DH Miguel Cabrera, who came back from a biceps injury Monday, was back in the lineup after sitting out the previous night. He went 0 for 3.
Orioles: OF Anthony Santander, the Orioles' home run leader with 27, got the night off. “I’m just giving him a little bit of a break,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-5, 4.35 ERA) will pitch the series opener Friday against the White Sox, who have not named a starter. Detroit has gone 4-12 against Chicago this season.
Orioles: RHP Kyle Bradish (3-7, 5.05 ERA) will make the start Thursday against the Houston Astros, who have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. Bradish has gone 0-5 with a 5.80 ERA at home this year.
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