BALTIMORE, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The third of four hits by Andy Dirks drove in the deciding run in the sixth inning Friday and the Detroit Tigers held on to defeat Baltimore 5-4.
Dirks went 4-for-4 with a walk in helping the Tigers maintain their three-game lead over second-place Cleveland in the American League Central.
With the score tied 4-4, Austin Jackson doubled to lead off the sixth against Troy Patton (0-1) and Dirks followed with a base hit up the middle to put the Tigers in front for good.
Patton was making his eighth appearance of the season and the 12th of his career. He has never won a major league game and his only other two losses came four years ago.
Wilson Betemit contributed a two-run homer in the fourth for the Tigers.
J.J. Hardy had two home runs for the Orioles, one of them a two-run shot in the first.
Starter Brad Penny (8-10) gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, but still got the win. Jose Valverde struck out Nolan Reimold with the tying run on third base to end the game and pick up his 34th save.
