DETROIT -- Tiger Stadium is coming down after this season. Albert Belle tried to accelerate the process last night.
With the night's first four RBIs, Belle provided the Orioles a long-awaited offensive jolt last night while starting pitcher Mike Mussina slogged his way to an effective but often inefficient 9-4 win over the Detroit Tigers before an announced crowd of 15,519.
The effort lifted the Orioles to their fifth consecutive win and sixth in their last seven games. Though they never trailed, they had to survive a nervous bullpen performance behind Mussina, who left the game after walking the first batter in the seventh inning.
Belle, who carries almost as many RBIs (21) as hits (23), pushed the Orioles to a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly and his sixth home run, a searing shot into the left-field upper deck. Jeff Reboulet scored four times and catcher Charles Johnson mixed his second home run among three hits as the Orioles halted a six-game road losing streak. Having started in a 6-17 slide, they will hardly quibble over style points.
The Orioles were forced to sit through six walks in the four innings after building a 9-0 lead against Tigers left-hander Justin Thompson and reliever Nelson Cruz. Mussina allowed six of the last nine hitters he faced to reach base, three on walks.
"I've pitched better games," Mussina said. "I haven't thrown the ball consistently well yet. I've given up too many hits; I've walked too many people. I'm fortunate enough to get big outs when I need them."
Mussina (5-1) never cruised but benefited from uncommon support to win his third consecutive start and lift his career record against the Tigers to 15-2.
"The times I've been here he's been real sharp," said Orioles manager Ray Miller. "I don't think he was all that sharp tonight."
"I'm pretty fortunate to be where I am," Mussina said, referring to an ERA that remains at 4.71 and 74 base runners allowed in 42 innings.
Still, Mussina extended his dominance to 7-1 in 10 career starts at Tiger Stadium, which is scheduled for demolition.
Given a breakout by Belle, the Orioles tried to advance the schedule by attacking Thompson for a lead only four hitters into the game. Orioles second baseman Delino DeShields would bat four times before Tigers' No. 8 hitter Gabe Kapler received his second plate appearance.
