DETROIT _ With seven runs on seven hits in the third inning and a barrage of runs in extra frames, the Orioles needed nearly every one of them Tuesday night in a victory during which their offense overcame a pitching performance that everyone involved is eager to forget.
All told, in their 13-11, 13-inning win over the Detroit Tigers before an announced 25,109 at Comerica Park, they had 20 hits, headlined by two home runs by first baseman Chris Davis plus big days from designated hitter Mark Trumbo and returning catcher Welington Castillo.
It began with a big number. The Orioles' third inning was a vintage one for such a powerful lineup that hasn't really clicked in such a way all season.
Seemingly every ball was hit hard. J.J. Hardy's home run, his second of the year, hung up in the warm Detroit air for a while, but the rest of the hits were stung. Center fielder Adam Jones yanked a double to left field, his first of three hits on the night. Third baseman Manny Machado blasted a ball off the base of the center-field wall that seemed to get there before the fielders even had time to react. He ended with three hits, too.
After an infield single by Trumbo, Davis put together a great piece of hitting to stay on a high-and-away fastball and smash the ball off the wall near where Machado's hit, scoring another run.
Jonathan Schoop walked to give the second baseman his sixth on the season, and two Orioles scored on a single by Castillo. By then, the Orioles led 6-1, and they added a seventh when rookie Trey Mancini hit a line drive off reliever Chad Bell.
The Orioles didn't manage much offensively otherwise _ their combined output in every other inning until the sixth was four singles. But it was a showing that manager Buck Showalter and hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh have longed for all season.
With his two home runs in extra innings, including the game-deciding blast in the 13th inning, Davis has four home runs in his past three games to give him eight on the season.
His other came in the 12th inning to stake the Orioles to a temporary lead in that frame. Davis' three-hit day brought his average to .266.
Including his game-tying home run in the ninth inning, Trumbo had a four-hit night to raise his average to .248 on the season.
May has been a better month for him. He was batting .202 at the end of April, but has hit .322 with three of his five home runs this month.
In his return from the disabled list after missing two weeks with right shoulder tendinitis, Castillo continued what had been a productive start to his Orioles career.
In the first five innings, he had three singles and drove in a pair of runs to raise his average to .342 entering his fourth at-bat.
After striking out in the 12th inning, Schoop didn't return to the field for the bottom half of the inning. He was replaced by Ryan Flaherty, and no reason was announced.
