Tigers At Orioles: ALDS Game 2 Preview
(AP) -- Nelson Cruz continued to punish the Detroit Tigers while helping the Baltimore Orioles to a historic offensive performance in the opener of their AL division series.
The AL East champions could have trouble duplicating their playoff-record scoring outburst against former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in Game 2.
With the Orioles looking to gain a 2-0 edge in the best-of-five series, Verlander brings an unbeaten record at Camden Yards into his start Friday as he tries to extend his dominance in division-series outings.
Cruz, who led the majors with 40 home runs, got Baltimore off to a positive start in Thursday's opener with a first-inning, two-run shot off 18-game winner Max Scherzer.
J.J. Hardy added a solo homer in the seventh inning before the Orioles tacked on eight runs in the eighth en route to a 12-3 win.
Cruz contributed an RBI single in the eighth inning and is now 10 for 26 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in seven career playoff games versus Detroit dating to the 2011 ALCS when he was with Texas.
"It's just I like to enjoy this moment, you know," he said. "I think as a player, you want to be in the situation."
While Verlander is 7-5 with 3.28 ERA in 15 career postseason outings, he's 4-0 with a 1.79 mark over seven outings in the ALDS. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner also owns a 30-inning scoreless streak in the division series.
"I think he's the type of guy, the bigger the stage, the brighter the lights, the better he's going to perform," manager Brad Ausmus told MLB's official website.
Verlander (15-12, 4.54 ERA) looks to carry over a solid finish to an otherwise down regular season. He went 3-0 with 2.89 ERA over his previous four starts - all Detroit victories - and won five of his last six decisions.
The right-hander has been outstanding at Camden Yards, going 7-0 with a 2.84 ERA in eight career starts. His worst outing at Baltimore came in 2014 when he allowed five runs over six innings in a 7-5 victory May 14.
Cruz hit a three-run homer off Verlander in that contest and is 3 for 5 with four RBIs against him this season. Adam Jones, one of only two starters without a hit Thursday, had three of his six hits over 33 career at-bats in the matchup in 2014.
Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54) received just two runs of support while dropping his last two regular-season starts, but pitched well with a 2.05 ERA in five September outings.
The left-hander has fared well at home, going 5-0 with a 3.50 ERA in his last six starts - all Orioles wins. He gave up one run and two hits over six innings in an 8-6 victory in his only career home meeting with Detroit on July 14, 2012.
Chen, however, doesn't have anywhere near Verlander's postseason experience. In his only career playoff start, he allowed one earned run over 6 1-3 innings in a 3-2 home win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 2012 ALDS.
"Of course (if) you have experience in playoffs, you will know how the crowds would be and how the environment would be," Chen said. "But (I'll) keep doing the same thing I was in the season, so it doesn't change that much for me."
He'll certainly have to be cautious with the Tigers, who hit a MLB-best .285 and ranked third with 46 homers versus lefties.
Victor Martinez, who had baseball's third-best average against southpaws at .371, had one of Detroit's three solo homers Thursday. Miguel Cabrera is batting .471 with 12 homers and 26 RBIs in his last 22 meetings after leaving the yard in the opener.
