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Tuesday, May 15 7:05pm ET
Orioles' offense batters Tigers
RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles still rank last in the league in batting average, and no team in the majors has fewer home runs.

So, after the Orioles reached double figures in a second straight game Tuesday night in an 11-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove felt compelled to put things in perspective.

"It's a juggernaut, isn't it?" he said, smiling broadly at his little joke.

David Segui drove in three runs in his return from the disabled list and Melvin Mora had three hits and three RBI as the Orioles set a season high for runs.

Baltimore has scored in double figures in its last two games after doing it only once in its first 37.

The Orioles were aided by nine Detroit walks, but Hargrove had reason to be encouraged by the 15-hit attack and the fact that Baltimore has scored 48 runs in its last six games.

"I think our guys are settling in, swinging the bat and getting into good hitter's counts," he said. "In the innings that we've been productive, we've hit deep in the count. That's the secret to good hitting."

Segui, sidelined since April 22 with a hand injury, doubled in two runs in his first at-bat. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in a five-run fifth inning that put Baltimore up 9-3.

Sidney Ponson (1-3), who lowered his ERA from 6.23 to 6.08, struck out eight and allowed three runs in five innings. The right-hander lost his first three starts this season, then went on the disabled list and receiving a no-decision against Tampa Bay in his return last Wednesday.

"It's good to get a win," Ponson said. "But I know I can do better."

Tony Clark hit a three-run double for the Tigers, who did very little right in losing for only the fourth time in 13 games this month.

"We had an awful night trying to throw strikes. We couldn't get the ball over the plate," manager Phil Garner said. "Nine walks? That's not good."

Mlicki by the numbers
Tigers pitcher Dave Mlicki had been on the winning side of three straight decisions before Tuesday's outing at Baltimore. Here's how his showing against the Orioles compares to his previous three starts:

Tuesday vs. Orioles
4.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 HR,
4 BB, 0 SO

Previous three starts
22.0 IP, 17 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 HR,
9 BB, 19 SO

Baltimore used four walks and four singles to pull away in the fifth. After the Orioles loaded the bases against Dave Mlicki (3-3), Greg Myers hit an RBI single off Heath Murray. Segui then walked on a 3-2 pitch, Mora hit a two-run single and Jerry Hairston capped the inning with an RBI single.

Mlicki, who had won his previous three starts, was charged with seven runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.

"I was not good," he said. "I didn't have much control of my breaking ball, and when I had to come in with the fastball, they hit it."

Mike Bordick doubled in a run in the seventh and Mora hit an RBI single in the eighth.

The first four Orioles to face Mlicki reached base and Detroit committed two errors in a three-run first. Brady Anderson received the first of his three walks, Bordick hit an RBI single and Segui delivered a two-out, two-run double on Mlicki's first pitch.

"It's nice to come back and contribute early," Segui said.

His absence is one reason why the Orioles entered the game with an anemic .234 batting average and 26 homers in 38 games.

"That was probably the biggest hit of the game. It really picked everybody up," Hargrove said.

Detroit loaded the bases with two outs in the third before Ponson struck out Bobby Higginson for a second time. Higginson went 0-for-3, ending his career-high tying 14-game hitting streak.

Baltimore made it 4-0 in the fourth. Mora led off with a bunt single, took second on a groundout and scored on a single by Hairston.

Clark's bases-loaded double cut the gap to one run in the fifth, but Baltimore quickly retaliated.

"We got momentum back, and the game swung back in our favor," Garner said. "But we didn't throw strikes."

Game notes
The Orioles sent RHP Josh Towers to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Segui on the roster. ... Segui is 11-for-24 against Mlicki. ... The Tigers have at least one extra-base hit in 25 straight games.

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RECAPS
Baltimore 11
Detroit 3

Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 2

Boston 5
Minnesota 2

Cleveland 8
Texas 6

Toronto 9
Anaheim 3

Oakland 3
NY Yankees 2

Seattle 4
Chi. White Sox 3

Arizona 5
Cincinnati 1

San Francisco 7
Florida 4

Montreal 2
Los Angeles 0

Milwaukee 14
Philadelphia 10

St. Louis 8
Pittsburgh 3

NY Mets 1
San Diego 0

Atlanta 5
Colorado 3

Houston 9
Chicago Cubs 7





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