Davis blasts two homers as O's rout Tigers

DETROIT -- The Orioles' lethal lineup turned in its largest offensive output since Aug. 10, 2010, highlighted by slugger Chris Davis' two-homer, five-RBI afternoon in a dominant 13-3 win over Detroit on Wednesday.

The offensive barrage extended far beyond Davis -- who leads the Majors with an eye-popping 26 homers -- with Taylor Teagarden going deep for a three-run homer and the O's turning out 17 hits, at least one by every starter, as they captured their Major League-leading 16th series win in the process.

"We are doing a lot of things right," Davis said of the Orioles, who moved to a season-high 11 games over .500. "We are throwing the ball really well, getting some timely hits and scoring some runs. And obviously the defense has been huge as well. I think as a whole, we are playing really well right now."

The victory, in front of 38,574 at Comerica Park, improved the Orioles (42-31) -- owners of the best winning percentage in baseball since July 29, 2012 -- to 22-16 on the road as the club continues to keep pace in a tough American League East. It also improved starter Chris Tillman to 6-0 in seven starts away from Camden Yards, with the 25-year-old picking up his career-high fifth straight winning decision.

"Results-wise, at the end of the day, a win is a win," said Tillman, who went five-plus innings and was charged with three runs. "I should have been better, but at the same time, you have to be happy to come out of Detroit winning the series. These guys have got a good lineup, and we know that. It was a grind for me today. No breaks."

The Orioles' offense didn't let up, scoring seven runs in the final three innings to distance themselves from a Detroit club that entered the day having allowed the fewest home runs in the AL. The Tigers, with quality starts in 21 of their past 24 outings coming in, surrendered a season high in runs. Baltimore started things off with a six-run fourth inning off starter Rick Porcello.

Nick Markakis opened the frame with a single and, one out later, Davis connected for a first-pitch opposite-field homer. The two-run blast gave Davis -- who doubled in a run in a three-run seventh -- his 25th homer of the year, and he hit No. 26, a two-run shot off Jose Valverde, as part of a four-run ninth.

"I think we found ourselves a DH finally," manager Buck Showalter said with a grin, as Davis started his first game of the season at designated hitter on Wednesday. "But he's been solid, he's just been very consistent in his approach and his at-bats. He's got a routine that he's really confident in, and he doesn't let one game that everything doesn't fall in place snowball."

Davis didn't get a full swing on his first homer, but he made up for it with his knock off Valverde, which came on a split-finger fastball. Asked if the pitch didn't split, Davis quipped: "It split, right into my barrel."

Teagarden put a good swing on Porcello's 1-0 fastball one out after Davis' homer in the fourth, sending the offering into the left-field stands. Sidelined for five weeks with a dislocated thumb, Teagarden picked up his second hit of the season and his first three RBIs, also scoring J.J. Hardy and Ryan Flaherty.

"It makes me feel like Adam Jones for an inning or two," Teagarden said of the blast. "I'm just driving in runs and helping the team win. There's obviously superstars on this team, but there are guys who want to help the team out every chance they get, so to get a hit like that, it means the world. Obviously winning the game is the biggest thing, so we held on to that lead and added on, and that was great."

Tillman benefited from the offense and battled his way through a 101-pitch outing. He didn't have a clean inning until the fifth, but used his defense to keep Detroit in check early. Teagarden threw out Austin Jackson at second base to erase a leadoff single in the first, and Tillman pitched around a pair of singles in the second and a third-inning walk before Detroit scored on a pair of fourth-inning doubles.

"I think it was a battle from the get-go," Tillman said. "I really didn't have a feel for a single pitch today. It was a battle, but I think Teagarden really did a good job of getting me through there."

Tillman exited after a leadoff single to Victor Martinez and a walk to Jhonny Peralta in the sixth, with Showalter summoning lefty T.J. McFarland to the mound. McFarland allowed the pair of inherited runners to score, but went on to toss two scoreless innings following that to bridge to right-hander Pedro Strop.

The Orioles chased Porcello from the game after six innings, with reliever Darin Downs then allowing a single to Nate McLouth and a walk to Manny Machado before giving way to righty Evan Reed in the seventh. A double steal put the pair in scoring position, and McLouth -- who set a career high with 24 stolen bases -- scored on Adam Jones' infield single. The Orioles scored against all three of the arms who followed Porcello.

"We were fortunate," Showalter said. "Porcello is a good pitcher. He's coming off some good outings, so timing's everything. You're fortunate when you catch guys like him and [Justin] Verlander not carrying their usual challenge that they present."

"This is not any type of a criticism, but when you get two starts from your starters back to back where they weren't successful starts for them, it usually spells two losses," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That's just the way it is."