It was a rough two weeks before the All-Star break for the Baltimore Orioles (45-49) losing eight of the last 12 games, five of them by just one run.

That losing momentum carried over into the second half of the season when the Orioles came up short yet again losing Thursday night 6-5 to the Detroit Tigers (48-47) in the first of a four-game series in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Starting pitching has been the biggest problem and it continued against the Detroit lineup, who hit two home runs off Oriole starter Garrett Olson and a third off reliever Dennis Sarfate.

Olson, coming off his worst performance against Toronto last Wednesday night giving up seven runs in just three and 2/3 innings, continued to struggle with his location allowing five runs, seven hits and walking four in six innings.

After a strong first inning, Olson began to struggle giving up a walk to Miguel Cabrera before Gary Sheffield put the Tigers up 2-0 with a 2-run blast to the left field stands.

Fortunately, the Baltimore bats were alive early as well scoring two runs in the bottom of the second after an RBI double from Melvin Mora and a single from catcher Ramon Hernandez that drove in another.

Melvin Mora came through against later in the game hitting a solo homer in the fourth inning to take the lead 4-3.

But Olson could only protect the lead for just one inning.

Tiger third baseman Brandon Inge hit a 2-run homer over the center field wall just out of the reach of the glove of Adam Jones and the Tigers held on to the lead from hat point on.

Dennis Sarfate came in in the seventh inning, but gave up a solo homer to the second batter he faced, Marcus Thames.

"They live a lot with the home run ball and we didn't keep the ball in the ballpark. So that was a negative for us," said Oriole manager Dave Trembley after losing their ninth one-run loss this season.

The Orioles managed to make another ninth inning push to tie the game when Luke Scott hit a lead off double and a infield single by Brian Roberts.

Adam Jones hit a sarcrifice bunt down the third baseline to move the runners over. After tigers closer Todd Jones walked Nick Markakis, designated hitter Aubrey huff hit a sacrifice fly that made it to the warning track to drive in one more run and cut the lead 6-5.

But that was as close as the Orioles were going to get.

First baseman Kevin Millar grounded out to third with a man in scoring position. "We had our chances," said Millar. "We battled, we just couldn't get that tying run."

Tigers started Kenny Rogers (7-6) also had problems early allowing a total of 11 hits, but only giving up four runs in the process.

Gary Sheffield hit another shot to left field and it looked like the Tigers were going to add some more insurance runs, but left fielder Jay PAyton robbed him of his second homer raching over the wall to make the catch.

The loss drops the Orioles to four games  under .500. Detroit took their winning momentum into the second half of the season and grabbed their fifth victory out of the last eight games.

The victory put the Tigers one game over .500 and in third place in the AL Central.

Detroit has hit 20 homers in the month of July after Thursday night and will try to continue that power hitting Friday night when Armando Galarrage (7-3) starts against Jeremy Guthrie (5-7).

This will be the first start for Jeremy Guthrie against the Tigers.