BALTIMORE (AP) -The younger they get, the better the Baltimore Orioles seem to play.
And boy, are those kids having fun.
The Orioles extended their winning streak to four games Thursday night, using two home runs by Luke Scott and a solid pitching performance by David Hernandez in his major league debut to beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1.
Hernandez (1-0) allowed one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings to become the fourth Baltimore pitcher this season to win in his first major league game. Koji Uehara, Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken also have done it.
For longtime Orioles like Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, who have waited years for the team’s rebuilding process to pay off, these are good times.
“When you win, it’s just a whole lot of fun. And the last inning I saw nine guys on the top step and on the rail,” manager Dave Trembley said. “For the guys who have been here – Roberts, Nicky – it’s a blast for them seeing Oriole guys come up through the system. That’s fun for them.”
Top prospect Matt Wieters will be added to the mix Friday. The rookie will stoop behind the plate to catch Bergesen, who will try to get Baltimore (22-26) within three games of .500 for the first time since April 28.
The team is getting a little younger, but it is getting more interesting. Everybody is enjoying it.”
Minutes after the game, Jones stuffed a shaving-cream pie into Hernandez’s face during the rookie’s postgame interview. One day earlier, rookie Nolan Reimold got the pie treatment after hitting a walkoff homer in the 11th against Toronto.
How long can this continue?
“As long as we keep winning,” Jones said. “I guess Wieters will be here tomorrow, so hopefully we can pie him.”
Scott hit a solo shot in the second inning and a three-run drive in the eighth. Reimold put Baltimore up for good with a solo homer in the fifth.
Armando Galarraga (3-5) gave up three runs and 10 hits over seven-plus innings for Detroit in losing his fifth straight decision.
“He pitched very well,” manager Jim Leyland said. “He gave us a chance to win.”
Clete Thomas drove in the lone run for the Tigers, who stranded 10 and went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
“We were terrible tonight, just terrible,” Leyland said. “You can’t do that up here and win games.”
Miguel Cabrera, who went 0-for-4, said, “We left a lot of runners on base. You don’t score runs, you can’t win.”
Hernandez got off to a shaky start, giving up two walks and a single in the first to load the bases with two outs for Brandon Inge, who hit a routine fly to left.
ing, but that would have been a nice inning to put a little something on him,” Leyland said. “(Hernandez) was very good. I was very impressed with him.”
Red Sox 3, Twins 1
At Minneapolis, Jason Varitek hit two home runs, then was one of four people ejected by young umpire Todd Tichenor during separate arguments in the seventh inning.
The 32-year-old Tichenor, up from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, gave the boot to both catchers and managers during a wild seventh that ended with Red Sox starter Josh Beckett giving a dismissive wave toward home plate in disgust.
Joe Crede homered in his return from a three-game absence because of a bruised hand, but Beckett (5-2) was too much for the Twins. He allowed one run and three hits, walked four and struck out eight in seven innings.
Varitek hit solo homers off Anthony Swarzak (1-1) to lead off the fifth and seventh innings.
Indians 2, Rays 1
At Cleveland, rookie David Huff and four relievers combined to stifle Tampa Bay and Victor Martinez drove in both runs for the Indians, who completed a four-game sweep of the defending American League champions.
It’s the first four-game sweep for the Indians since they did it to the Rays last July 10-13 at Progressive Field. The Rays have lost 17 in a row in Cleveland and five in a row overall.
The Rays’ run came on Willy Aybar’s homer in the sixth, which was upheld after a video review.
Jeff Niemann (4-4) gave up a run and five hits in three innings of a game delayed by rain in the fourth inning for 2 hours, 40 minutes.
Matt Herges (1-0) struck out three in 1 2-3 scoreless innings to get the win.
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