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Homers back Tillman, boost O’s in Wild race
- Updated: September 11, 2016
DETROIT — Chris Tillman stepped off the disabled list and pitched the Orioles through a duel with Justin Verlander for the second time this year, allowing home runs from Michael Bourn and Jonathan Schoop to power the O’s to a 3-1 win over the Tigers in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday at Comerica Park.
With the win, Baltimore is tied with Toronto, which lost to Boston on Sunday, for the two American League Wild Card spots. The Tigers, now two games back, remain even with the Yankees, who lost Sunday to the Rays, as the closest Wild Card pursuers.
Verlander (14-8) lost for the first time since Aug. 16, but he was handed his third consecutive loss over the past two years to the O’s, including a 1-0 defeat to Tillman on May 13 at Camden Yards. Bourn’s two-run homer in the third and Schoop’s fourth-inning solo shot saddled Verlander with three runs for just the second time in his past 14 starts.
That was enough for Tillman (16-5), who held Detroit’s offense to four hits over six innings. Ian Kinsler’s two-out RBI single briefly broke Tillman’s stride in the fifth inning, but he retired the middle of Detroit’s lineup in order three times in as many trips.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBourn to be wild: Michael Bourn put the Orioles on the board in the third inning with a two-run …
