Anibal Sanchez relapsed Sunday.
Baltimore — Anibal Sanchez relapsed Sunday.
He had seemingly gotten past his home run problem. Over his previous eight starts, he’ d allowed five home runs in 45.1 innings — a marked improvement.
Then he crashed. The Orioles slugged five home runs off him in three-plus innings Sunday and routed the Tigers, 12-3.
Jonathan Schoop, Chris Davis and Trey Mancini homered in consecutive at-bats in the first inning. Joey Rickard and Manny Machado homered in the fourth.
BOX SCORE: Orioles 12, Tigers 3
The five home runs allowed ties Sanchez’s career high. It was the eighth time he’s allowed three or more in a game since 2014. His 78 homers allowed is third most since 2015 behind James Shields (90) and Ian Kennedy (83) .
The Tigers had won in five of Sanchez’s previous six starts and he was coming off a start at Yankee Stadium, a home-run friendly yard if there ever was one, where he allowed just two runs in 6.2 innings.
Go figure.
As befuddling as this start was for Sanchez, it was a head-scratcher for the Tigers hitters, too. Because they couldn’ t do any real damage against right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, a guy they’ ve averaged nearly six runs against in 22 starts.
They put two runners on base in the first four innings and didn’ t push any across the plate. Twice he got Mikie Mahtook out with two on and two out.
Nick Castellanos’s 16th home run of the season, on his 500th career hit, was the only run they got against Jimenez. They added two runs in the ninth. Singles by Ian Kinsler (three hits) and Jim Adduci, and an RBI groundout by Justin Upton. Then Mahtook poked an RBI single to right.
Left-hander Chad Bell quieted the Orioles for 3.1 innings before giving way to right-hander Joe Jimenez. After giving up the go-ahead home run in the loss Saturday night, Jimenez took some softer lumps.
After getting the last two outs in the seventh, Jimenez gave up four straight hits, none hit particularly hard, and four runs in the eighth without getting an out. Warwick Saupold got through the inning, though he was touched for a single and a walk.
Rickard and Machado had four hits each. Machado was a triple shy of a cycle and had five RBIs. The Orioles had 17 hits on the day.
John Hicks, getting the start behind the plate, had a large contingent of family and friends up from his hometown of Goochland, Virginia (three-hour drive) and he rewarded them with a career-high-tying three hits.
Andrew Romine, subbing for Miguel Cabrera (rest) at first base, also had three hits.
The Tigers conclude this road trip with two games in Pittsburgh.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
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