Tigers Look To Sweep Baltimore Series
BALTIMORE (CBS) - The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers are in position to earn their first division title since 1987, though they've yet to complete a sweep of more than two games on the road this season.
They can do just that Sunday in the finale of a three-game set against the struggling Baltimore Orioles.
Detroit (64-55) maintained its three-game lead on second-place Cleveland with a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Baltimore on Saturday. The Tigers overcame a 5-0 deficit to complete their biggest comeback of the season. Each of their last eight victories have come by one run.
With a win Sunday, Detroit would earn its first three-game sweep on the road since Sept. 17-19 against the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers swept a two-game set in Minnesota on May 10 and 11.
Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in a five-run sixth inning Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. It was his first homer since July 28 and he's hitting .383 during his streak.
"It was a heck of a comeback for us, obviously," manager Jim Leyland said. "We play hard. We play nine innings. That's been the theme ever since I've been here."
Doug Fister (4-12, 3.37 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound Sunday in his third start since being acquired from Seattle on July 30. He beat Texas 5-4 in his first start for Detroit on Aug. 3, allowing three runs in seven innings. His outing Tuesday against Cleveland was cut short by an extended rain delay after he gave up two runs in two innings before the Tigers fell 3-2 in 14.
The win over Texas was the right-hander's first since beating Baltimore 4-3 on May 30 while pitching for Seattle, when he allowed three runs in 7 1-3 innings. He's 2-0 with a 3.26 ERA in three career starts versus the Orioles, who have lost seven of nine on their 10-game homestand.
J.J. Hardy went 0 for 4 on Saturday and failed to drive in a run for the first time in nine games. He's hitting .351 on the homestand, and his two homers in Friday's loss gave him 23 - the most of any AL shortstop.
Nick Markakis went 0 for 4 for the second straight day, dropping his average to .167 in five meetings against the Tigers this season.
AL-worst Baltimore is 0-12-1 in its last 13 series and has lost five one-run games on this homestand after being 10-1 in one-run games at Camden Yards.
"(The loses) are mounting," Markakis told the team's official website. "We just have to do everything we can. We just have to go out there and play the game, and the end result at the end of the night, it is what it is."
Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9, 5.49) will look to help get the Orioles back on track.
Reyes has made one start for Baltimore since being claimed off waivers from Toronto, allowing four runs in four innings of a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday. He's given up 12 runs in 9 1-3 innings in losing his last two starts overall.
The left-hander lost to Detroit on May 8 after giving up five runs in seven innings while pitching for the Blue Jays.
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