EditorsNote: Adds Alexander's strikeout total in graf 2; adds to Mean's pitching line; other minor edits
Tyler Alexander recorded his first major league victory, Jordy Mercer hit a two-run home run and the host Detroit Tigers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Monday.
Alexander (1-3) limited the Orioles to one run on four hits and didn't issue a walk while striking out three in six innings. Joe Jimenez struck out Trey Mancini with the bases loaded in the ninth for his seventh save.
Victor Reyes had a double and a triple, scored a run and knocked in two more for Detroit. Dawel Lugo scored a run and had an RBI.
Detroit designated hitter Miguel Cabrera returned to the lineup after missing two games with knee soreness. He went 0-for-4.
Mancini hit a solo homer for Baltimore, which settled for a split in the four-game series between the majors' worst teams. Rookie starter John Means (10-11) gave up five runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings for the Orioles.
Detroit struck early when Reyes led off the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on Mercer's 424-foot blast to left-center field.
Mancini led off the fourth with a double to left. He advanced to third on a groundout but Alexander retired the next two batters on a strikeout and fly ball.
The Tigers extended their lead to 4-0 in the fifth. Lugo led off with a single and Travis Demeritte reached on an infield hit. Means retired the next two batters before Reyes doubled to left-center, bringing home both runners. Reyes was thrown out trying to stretch the extra-base hit into another triple.
Baltimore got on the board in the sixth with Mancini's two-out solo shot, which traveled an estimated 430 feet to left field.
The Tigers made it 5-1 in the bottom of the inning. They loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Lugo hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Mercer.
The Orioles scored in the seventh on Jonathan Villar's triple and Austin Hays' run-scoring single.
Detroit had runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the inning. But Mercer fouled out and Cabrera grounded out.
--Field Level Media
