u know what? Im going to keep demanding it becaus

DETROIT -- Victor Martinezs home run gave Detroit another big boost in the late innings.Martinez hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth, and the Tigers beat Baltimore 4-3 on Friday night, pulling even with the Orioles for the American Leagues second wild card. It was another tight, tense victory for Detroit, which has won five consecutive one-run games since late August.The back end of bullpens are usually some of the best arms in the game, manager Brad Ausmus said. We dont give up against them.Michael Fulmer pitched seven solid innings, and the Tigers won despite blowing a 3-0 lead. The Orioles tied it in the eighth when Adam Jones hit an RBI single, but Martinez led off the bottom half with a drive to right-center field off reliever Brad Brach (8-3).Alex Wilson (3-0) got the win even after allowing the tying run in the eighth. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his 40th save in 44 chances. He is tied with Baltimores Zach Britton for the AL lead in saves.The Orioles fell three games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.The last Detroit starter to win a game was Justin Verlander on Aug. 26. Since then, the Tigers have been able to keep pace by pulling out close games late. Fridays victory was no exception.This was a great game between two teams that are trying to get into the postseason, and we just came up a little short, Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman said. Ive pitched in the playoffs, and thats what it felt like tonight.Gausman allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.J.D. Martinez hit a two-run single in the fifth to give Detroit a 3-0 lead, but Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer the following inning to start Baltimores comeback.Gausman hadnt allowed a run in his previous three outings, but that streak came to an end when Erick Aybar hit an RBI double in the second. The right-hander got out of a jam in the third when right fielder Mark Trumbo threw Ian Kinsler out at the plate to end the inning.J.D. Martinez delivered with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth to give the Tigers a three-run lead.Detroit left fielder Justin Upton reached up at the wall in the third to take a possible homer away from Hyun Soo Kim.Upton and Miguel Cabrera struck out three times each.PLENTY LEFTFulmer allowed two runs and three hits against Baltimores powerful lineup. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked one.He is up to 143 2/3 innings for the Tigers this year. Detroit has tried to manage his workload, and this was an encouraging start after he had lost three straight.It felt playoff atmosphere -- if I knew what it felt like, Fulmer said. I got pumped up there, the later I went in the game.WRONG DIRECTIONBrach has a 3.98 ERA since the All-Star break. It was 0.91 before the break.Manager Buck Showalter wasnt putting the blame on the reliever for this game, however.Victor Martinez is a great hitter, Showalter said. You can make a perfect pitch to him, and end up with exactly that result.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: Showalter said RHP Darren ODay (right rotator cuff) might throw a simulated game soon. He said OF Joey Rickard (right thumb ligament) hit Thursday, and RHP Chris Tillman (right shoulder) threw Friday.Tigers: 3B Nick Castellanos (left hand) said in the clubhouse before the game his goal is to be back before Sept. 18.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-11) takes the mound Saturday night against the Tigers. Hes coming off a two-hitter at Tampa Bay in his last start.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (9-5) returns to the mound for his second start since June and first since Aug. 4. Hes battled neck problems for much of the season.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Robert Horry Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Lakers Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/LeBron-James-Jersey/ . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Kobe Bryant Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kobe Bryant Lakers Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo can see the positives and negatives all jumbled together for his 24th-ranked Spartans, from the good stretches where the ball goes inside to the bad ones when his team fires up quick 3-point attempts.Its still not smooth for us, the Hall of Fame coach said after Wednesdays 73-62 victory over St. Johns in the Battle 4 Atlantis. It might not be for a while.Freshman Miles Bridges had 22 points and a season-high 15 rebounds to lead the Spartans (3-2), who used a 17-4 burst midway through the second half to pull away late and build a 67-53 lead with about 2 1/2 minutes left.Eron Harris added 14 points for the Spartans, while Tum Tum Nairn Jr. -- a native of nearby Nassau -- matched his career high of 13 points in his return to the Bahamas.Michigan State has had a bumpy start to the season, starting with a loss to Arizona on a last-second basket in the opener. The Spartans managed just 48 points in a loss to current No. 1 Kentucky and barely beat Florida Gulf Coast at home over the weekend. Its part of a tough opening month that concludes with a trip to preseason No. 1 Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.Theres some frustrating moments, and its not all their fault, Izzo said. Its just the cards weve been dealt. ... Im asking a lot of these guys. And you know what? Im going to keep demanding it because thats what we do here.Marcus LoVett scored 20 points to lead the Red Storm (2-2), who shot around 31 percent and couldnt answer Michigan States clinching push.We tried everything -- inside, outside, we tried pick and roll, St. Johns coach Chris Mullin said. We got enough looks but didnt knock any down. When you shoot 30 percent, you arent going to win a game.BIG PICTURESt. Johns: When LoVett was hitting (13 points after halftime), St. Johns was right with Michigan State. But the Red Storm struggled most of the game, while Mullin particularly noted the teams eight assists as a sign of how the ball stuck.Thats really not the kind of game I want to play, Mullin said.ddddddddddddichigan State: The performance of Bridges and fellow freshman Nick Ward could be a welcome sign of hope for Michigan States frontcourt, which is down two big men due to knee injuries. Ward finished with nine points and a season-high 11 rebounds, and the Spartans desperately need more games like that from them going forward.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Spartans have slid significantly in the AP Top 25 from their No. 12 preseason spot, though they could start climbing again by getting through an Atlantis field that also includes No. 10 Louisville and No. 20 Baylor.DOMINANT BRIDGESThe 6-foot-7 Bridges had a double-double by halftime and finished 9 of 18 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range. He had three assists and one block in 35 minutes.Im just doing whatever Coach wants me to do, Bridges said. Wherever he puts me at, Im trying to create for others, score for myself, rebound. Like I said, if people double-team me, I can get my teammates open. Thats what I like to do: I like to see my teammates score more than I do.TUM TUMS BIG NIGHTNairn, a 5-foot-10 junior, had scored nine points through the first four games but blew past that with 11 after halftime. He hit 3 of 4 3-point attempts after never hitting more than one in any game in his career.There was also his highlight-reel moment when he threw down a huge dunk in transition to thrill the large gathering of family and friends on hand to catch his return to the Bahamas.UP NEXTSt. Johns: The Red Storm will face VCU on Thursday in the losers bracket on Day 2 of the three-games-in-three-days event.Michigan State: The Spartans advanced to Thursdays semifinals to face No. 20 Baylor, which beat VCU earlier Wednesday.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '