Baltimore, MD (Best E Casino) - Brandon Inge belted a key two-run homer to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a four-game series at Camden Yards.

Gary Sheffield also hit a two-run homer while Marcus Thames added a solo blast for the Tigers, who had dropped three of four entering the All-Star break. Kenny Rogers (7-6) earned the win after he allowed four runs on 11 hits through six innings.

Melvin Mora homered and finished with two RBI for Baltimore, which has lost eight of its last nine games.

Garrett Olson (6-5) started on the hill for Baltimore and allowed five runs on seven hits in six innings with five strikeouts and four walks.

The visitors entered the top of the sixth trailing 4-3 but grabbed the lead courtesy of Inge's two-run homer. Edgar Renteria laced a two-out single and Inge belted his seventh home run of 2008 over the wall in center field.

Rogers induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Brian Roberts to escape trouble in the bottom of the sixth.

"Kenny is one of those guys that lives a lot with control pitching," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He was a bit sluggish to start with, but you have to give him a lot of credit. He hung in there and got the big double play at the end that Roberts hit."

Thames gave the visitors a two- run cushion with a solo blast -- his 18th of the season -- off of Dennis Sarfate in the seventh.

"They have a good offensive club," said Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "They live a lot with the home run and we didn't keep the ball in the park, so that was a negative for us."

Freddy Dolsi, Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney combined to pitch a scoreless seventh and Joel Zumaya hurled a 1-2-3 eighth.

Closer Todd Jones took the mound for the ninth and was greeted by a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Luke Scott, who ripped a hanging curveball down the right-field line. Roberts then hit a hard liner off the knee of shortstop Renteria and reached first safely. Adam Jones bunted both runners ahead one base and Nick Markakis walked to load the bases for Aubrey Huff.

Huff drilled a fly ball to the warning track in center to allow Scott to tag and score as Baltimore drew within 6-5. With runners on first and third, Kevin Millar grounded out to end the game. Jones recorded his 18th save of 2008.

"We got ourselves in a little bit of trouble (in the ninth), but we got out of it," said Leyland. "They keep coming at you -- they're a very versatile offensive club."

Earlier Thursday, the Tigers activated outfielder Magglio Ordonez from the 15- day disabled list. Ordonez had been sidelined since June 28 with right oblique spasms. Ordonez started and went 1-for-5.

The Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second o a two-run blast by Sheffield. Miguel Cabrera drew a one-out walk and Sheffield turned on a fastball and belted it over the wall in left field.

In the bottom of the frame, Baltimore tied the score. Aubrey Huff led off with a double and moved to third when Millar singled to left. A Mora double brought home Huff before Millar crossed the plate on Ramon Hernandez' base hit.

The teams then traded runs in the third inning. Thames' RBI double in the top half preceded a Markakis groundout, which scored Roberts. Roberts doubled leading off and advanced to third on a Jones single.

Mora's solo homer in the home fourth gave the O's a 4-3 advantage.

Game Notes

Rogers improved to 11-9 lifetime against the O's...This marked Olson's first start against Detroit...The O's left nine men on base...To make room on the roster for Ordonez, the Tigers optioned outfielder Clete Thomas to Triple-A Toledo. That move officially took place during the All-Star break because Detroit knew it would activate Ordonez prior to this game...Baltimore outhit the Tigers, 14-9...Attendance was 23,224.