Homers by Bourn and Schoop give O's early lead (Orioles win 3-1)

DETROIT - The Orioles' 225th home run of the season came from an unlikely source today. But it was big and provided them with a 2-0 lead on Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers in the top of the third inning.

Michael Bourn got the start today in right field and presumably one reason was his career .371 (13-for-35) batting average against the Tigers right-hander. Then today Bourn delivered off Verlander in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Verlander threw him five straight fastballs, all at 95 or 96 mph, and Bourn turned on one on a 2-2 count to homer to right-center. It scored Caleb Joseph, who had doubled to right with one out.

Bourn hit three homers in 358 plate appearances this season with Arizona. Today, he hit his second with the Orioles in his second start with the team and his 13th Baltimore plate appearance.

With the help of center fielder Adam Jones, O's starter Chris Tillman held Detroit scoreless through three innings and 52 pitches in his return to the rotation. Tillman came off the disabled list today and is starting for the first time since Aug. 20 after dealing with right shoulder bursitis.

Erick Aybar led off the Tigers' third inning with a double, but could not advance as Jones made two very nice catches to keep him from scoring. First, Jones charged in and over and dove for a liner off the bat of Jose Iglesias for an out. The inning ended with Jones running into deep center to run down a drive off the bat of Cameron Maybin.

Not long after that, the Orioles added to their lead. Jonathan Schoop homered on a 2-1 changeup for a 3-0 lead in the fourth. It was No. 23 for Schoop. The O's had six hits in the first four innings off Verlander, who had allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his previous 13 starts.

The Orioles have hit seven homers in this series, including six in the last two days. They have now hit 49 homers their last 23 games and 226 for the season to lead the majors.

Meanwhile, Tillman sat down the Tigers 1-2-3 in the last of the fourth. He is at 67 pitches and has allowed two hits so far.

Detroit gets on the board: The Tigers scored once, but could have had more, in the last of the fifth. Jose Iglesias singled with two outs to send Justin Upton, who had walked, to third base. Then a single to center by Ian Kinsler cut the O's lead to 3-1. But Tillman got a big third out, getting Cameron Maybin on a grounder to second base. The Tigers are 1-for-7 with runners in scoring postion through five innings.

Detroit replaced Verlander to start the sixth with Bruce Rondon. So Verlander allowed seven hits and three runs to the Orioles over five innings and 104 pitches. This game today ended his streak of 11 consecutive quality starts, which was the longest run of his career.

Brach in for Tillman: Tillman went six innings and threw 105 pitches this afternoon. It was some solid return to the rotation as he gave up just four hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. The O's rotation has nine quality starts the past 13 games with an ERA of 3.15.

Brad Brach, who allowed a tiebreaking homer to Victor Martinez in the eighth on Friday night, pitched a 1-2-3 last of the seventh on 16 pitches and the game moved to the eighth with the O's leading 3-1.

Orioles get series finale: Make that two big wins in a row for the Orioles. They win 3-1 today to take the series by winning its final two games. The Orioles improved to 78-64 with 20 games to play and leave Comerica Park leading Detroit by two games in the wild card standings. The teams were tied after the Tigers' win here on Friday.

Mychal Givens came on to pitch in the eighth. He hit a man and walk one but got Miguel Cabrera to hit into an inning-ending double play in one of the biggest moments of the weekend. Cabrera went 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in this series. Zach Britton pitched the ninth to record his 41st save in 41 chances. He has recorded 43 straight saves dating to last Oct. 1. He stranded two runners in the ninth.

Earlier, the O's got the lead on the homers by Bourn and Schoop. Tillman and the three relievers made that hold up. O's pitching held the Tigers to eight runs in this series.

Now it is on to Boston for a huge three-game series that starts Monday night at Fenway Park. Check back here later for an entry wrapping up the win with reaction from the clubhouse and manager Buck Showalter.