DETROIT -- Chris Davis struck a ball on Wednesday afternoon that couldn't have been closer to a home run, hitting the top of the left-field fence before bouncing back into play. In his first at-bat Thursday, Davis left no doubt. The struggling O's slugger hit a two-run homer in the second inning off of Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann to give Baltimore an early lead, before eventually falling to the Tigers, 13-8.
Davis, who entered the day batting just .136 with one home run and three RBIs, is now 6-for-10 with four career homers off of Zimmermann. Thursday's homer also scored Adam Jones, who doubled, and came on a 1-1 fastball.
As the Orioles (5-13) have struggled to start the season, Davis has been receiving his share of criticism. Signed to a club-record seven-year, $161 million contract, Davis -- who vowed this spring to have more productive, aggressive at-bats -- is one of several Orioles regulars batting below the Mendoza Line.