masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgA few minutes after the Orioles wrapped up an 8-5 win over Detroit to end a 10-game homestand, Nick Markakis was asked if he needed to have a big day like he did in this win.

“I think we needed that more as team, personally,” Markakis said, after his four-RBI game. “You know, I could care less what I do. But whether it’s getting three hits in a game or taking an 0-fer, winning the game is what it comes down to.

“We came out swinging the bats. Nolan (Reimold) got us started a couple of…A few minutes after the Orioles wrapped up an 8-5 win over Detroit to end a 10-game homestand, Nick Markakis was asked if he needed to have a big day like he did in this win.

“I think we needed that more as team, personally,” Markakis said, after his four-RBI game. “You know, I could care less what I do. But whether it’s getting three hits in a game or taking an 0-fer, winning the game is what it comes down to.

“We came out swinging the bats. Nolan (Reimold) got us started a couple of times and we built on that. We got some hits in key situations.”

Markakis went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer in the first inning and RBI singles in the fifth and sixth. He entered today 0-for-8 in the first two games with Detroit, but extended his streak of getting at least one hit in 178 straight series.

That streak dates back to a series against Tampa Bay May 23-25 of 2008 where he went without a basehit.

“Yeah, I was aware of it,” Markakis said after his biggest RBI day since he drove in six against Tampa Bay on June 10. “But you can’t look at that stuff, you just go out there and play the game. All good things come to an end eventually.

“The name of the game, if you want to play in the big leagues and have a successful career, you have to be consistent. That’s the key to this game, going out day in and day out and doing your job.”

The Orioles gave lefty Jo-Jo Reyes an early lead and he got his first O’s win in his second start. He gave up just four hits and one run over six innings.

Jo-Jo Reyes talks about getting his first win as an Oriole after beating Detroit on Sunday

“I think secondary pitches were good and I kept them off balance. I was able to throw fastballs in and mix up the changeup and curveball,” Reyes said.

“I was able to throw the ball consistently down in the zone and, like I said, the secondary pitches were a big key today.”

With the O’s rotation seemingly in a constant state of flux, Reyes was asked about the chance that he can stay in the mix there the rest of this season.

“It’s not my call. All I can do is go out there and do what I did today and whatever happens, happens. The main goal is one pitch at a time,” he said, after improving to 6-9 with an ERA of 5.30.

Reyes made a nice improvement after his first Orioles start where he gave up four runs over four innings against the White Sox.

“There have been some things and me and (pitching coach) Rick (Adair) were working on in the bullpen and it actually carried over well today. I just have to keep working and concentrate on one pitch at a time,” he said.