The O’s were looking to break their Sunday losing streak today, as they took on the Detroit Tigers in the final game of the 4 part series. For the second consecutive home Sunday, the Orioles offered fans a special incentive to make their way to Camden Yards on a hot Sunday afternoon. Fans who bought a ticket to today’s game would walk away with two free tickets to games later this season if the Orioles were able to break their Sunday skid. All they had to do was get past Tigers ace Justin Verlander.

The Orioles even brought out their A squad of announcers this afternoon, as hockey many Gary Thorne and underwear model Jim Palmer handled duties in the booth.

One and Done

The Orioles scored in the second inning when Aubrey Huff took a leadoff walk and scored on a Luke Scott double. Scott advanced to third on an error, but got caught in a rundown in the next at bat. The Orioles led by one but lost an opportunity to put a few more runs on the board.

Magglio Ordonez tied the game with one swing in the top of the third inning, blasting a 3-2 pitch ten rows into the stands.

Burres Burns Out

The game was tied up after five innings and it had the look of a pitchers’ duel between O’s lefty Brian Burres and Tigers ace Justin Verlander. Verlander, however, was much more efficient in his pitches, keeping his pitch count in the 50s while Burres had already climbed to nearly 100. Verlander retired 11 batters in a row through five innings, many being knocked out with one or two pitches.

Marcus Thames launched one into the left field stands in the sixth inning. Thames was jogging towards third base when the umpires finally decided the ball was fair. Brandon Inge hit a one out double in the next at bat as Burres’ pitch count started to catch up to him. Inge scored on a Raburn single. Burres was pulled after 5 and 1/3 innings.

Lance Cormier retired the next two Tigers batters, but the O’s were down 1-3.

After Verlander retired 16 Orioles in a row, Kevin Millar hit a two out double in the bottom of the seventh inning, bringing the potential tying run, Saturday’s hero Luke Scott, to the plate. The Tigers ace quickly worked a pitcher’s count and struck Scott out on a 1-2 pitch.

Out of Rehab

Cormier gave up a single to chubby 1B Miguel Cabrera and a double to Marcus Thames before getting pulled for recently recalled Randor Bierd. Bierd was on a rehab assignment longer than a) Robert Downey Jr. b) Britney Spears c) all of the Baldwin brothers combined or d) the joke is stupid regardless of the celebrity chosen for the punch line.

He may be headed back to rehab after he allowed both inherited runners to score before inducing a Curtis Granderson double play. The Tigers were up by four runs after 7 and ½ innings.

Guillermo Quiroz picked up the birds third hit of the night with one out in the eighth inning. Juan Castro hit into a double play in the next at bat.

Alberto Castillo worked an effective ninth inning, striking out Miguel Cabrera with a man on second to keep Detroit from piling on any more runs.

The Anti-Bedard

Verlander returned for the ninth inning, looking for a complete game win. Brian Roberts worked a walk, but it was erased in the next at bat when Markakis hit into a double play. Mora worked a two out walk, which brought Marlboro Man and Tigers skipper Jim Leyland out to the mound. He pulled Verlander one out shy of the CG and three innings later than Erik Bedard would have pulled himself.

The Tigers SP was clearly unhappy about this. I don’t want to compliment a pitcher for showing up his manager, but you’ve got to give Verlander credit for wanting to stay in there. He had a four run lead and only one on base. He deserved at least one more chance to go the distance.

Aging Tigers closer Todd Jones walked Aubrey Huff and worked into a 3-2 count against Boston cheerleader Kevin Millar, who lined a ground ball up the third base line. It looked like it was going to be a multi-RBI double, but 3B Brandon Inge made a diving stop, throwing out club-footed Millar by 20 feet.

Reversing the Curse

The O’s have now lost 15 straight Sunday contests. They’ll have another chance at home next Sunday against the Angels. What will the birds have to do to snap this streak next Sunday afternoon at the Yard?

A) Stay off Baltimore St. on Saturday night, no matter what Aubrey Huff says

B) Ban Jim Hunter from the broadcast area, post-game show included

C) Bring Cal back to play shortstop

D) Pray for rain

Score: 1-5 Detroit

Record: 47-50, 10.5GB

Next Game: vs. Toronto 7:05.

For more info: Check out the ESPN boxscore here.

Topics: Brian Burres , Justin Verlander , Erik Bedard