masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJeremy Guthrie receives the ninth-lowest run support in the American League at 3.58 per game, so handing him a 5-0 lead is like giving a starving man the crumbs off Peter Schmuck’s shirt.

Guthrie couldn’t handle prosperity tonight.

The Tigers scored once in the fourth inning to reduce the lead to 5-1, and six straight batters reached base with two outs to put Detroit ahead, 6-5, and put Guthrie on the bench.

Magglio Ordonez doubled and Miguel Cabrera followed with an opposite-field home…Jeremy Guthrie receives the ninth-lowest run support in the American League at 3.58 per game, so handing him a 5-0 lead is like giving a starving man the crumbs off Peter Schmuck’s shirt.

Guthrie couldn’t handle prosperity tonight.

The Tigers scored once in the fourth inning to reduce the lead to 5-1, and six straight batters reached base with two outs to put Detroit ahead, 6-5, and put Guthrie on the bench.

Magglio Ordonez doubled and Miguel Cabrera followed with an opposite-field home run. Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta singled, and Alex Avila followed with a ground-rule double to draw the Tigers within one run.

Peralta had to stop at third base, but he scored along with Avila on Ryan Raburn’s two-run single.

Talk about the wheels coming off the cart. They’re still rolling down Pratt St.

Chris Jakubauskas replaced Guthrie, who was charged with six runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two, struck out one and gave up a home run. He threw 83 pitches, 48 for strikes.

A stunning reversal – unless you’re braced for these disappointments every night.

In his last three starts, Guthrie has allowed 17 runs (16 earned) and 24 hits over 19 2/3 innings.

NOTE: Matt Hobgood lasted only 1 1/3 innings tonight at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He allowed six runs (four earned) and two hits, walked four, struck out one, threw a wild pitch and hit two batters. His ERA jumped to 12.23.

The IronBirds committed three errors in the first two innings.