BALTIMORE (AP) — Taylor Teagarden ended his first game with the Baltimore Orioles in stunning fashion, hitting a two-run homer in the 13th inning that sealed an 8-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. In a crazy, back-and-forth duel that lasted 4 hours, 43 minutes, Baltimore scored three runs in the 13th to secure its 10th straight extra-inning win and snap Detroit's six-game winning streak. The Orioles got a run in the 11th after the Tigers scored in the top half, then rallied again in the 13th after Quintin Berry put Detroit ahead 6-5 with a two-out RBI single. In the bottom half, J.J. Hardy ended an 0-for-28 skid with a tying solo homer off Joaquin Benoit (1-2). After Adam Jones was hit by a pitch with two outs, Teagarden homered over the right-field wall. Teagarden was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game after missing the entire season with a strained back. He entered after starting catcher Matt Wieters left for a pinch runner in the 10th. Kevin Gregg (3-2) got the last out in the 13th to get the win. Baltimore improved to 35-0 when leading after eight innings, but it sure wasn't easy. Up 4-1 entering the ninth, Baltimore turned to All-Star closer Jim Johnson. Instead, the Tigers scored three runs to hand Johnson his second blown save in 28 opportunities. Miguel Cabrera led off with a single, and with one out Delmon Young reached when third baseman Ryan Flaherty, a defensive replacement, botched a potential game-ending, double-play grounder. Jhonny Peralta singled in a run and Brennan Boesch hit an RBI double before pinch hitter Alex Avila struck out. Berry followed with a single to left to score the tying run, but Boesch was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Endy Chavez, a defensive replacement whose presence paid off. In the top of the 11th, Prince Fielder and Delmon Young hit successive singles off Miguel Socolovich, who was working a second inning in his major league debut. With two outs and runners on the corners, Avila laced a soft liner to center off Troy Patton. But Baltimore tied it against Detroit closer Jose Valverde in the bottom half, getting a two-out RBI single from Jones. Continued... |