BASEBALL : Oriole Impresses in Debut

Before his major league debut Thursday afternoon, Baltimore Orioles rookie right-hander Scott Klingenback said he had nothing to lose.

Then he went out and won.

Cal Ripken Jr. homered and drove in four runs, and Klingenbeck pitched seven strong innings, as the Orioles snapped their three-game losing streak and Detroit’s four-game winning streak by beating the Tigers 11-5.

Klingenbeck (1-0) was recalled from the Double-A Bowie Baysox when a strained groin forced Ben McDonald to miss his first start after 80 straight turns. Klingenbeck gave up four runs on six hits, walked four and struck out five.

“If I had a lot of time to think about the start, I might have been stronger,” he said. “I was pitching on three days’ rest. But if that’s the way it’s going to happen . . . this is my ESPN dream.””

“He showed a lot of composure,” Baltimore manager Johnny Oates said. “He did some things that you’d like experienced veterans to do. He threw some 3-2 change-ups, 3-2 sliders. Sometimes that’s tough -- not only to teach, but to teach them to have confidence in doing it.”

Lou Whitaker hit a home run, his ninth of the season, for Detroit. Whitaker and Junior Felix each had two RBIs for the Tigers.

The victory helped the Orioles avert a four-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers, who could have reached .500 for the first time this season with a triumph.

“I thought for sure we would,” said Tigers manager Sparky Anderson.

“We’ve been battling all year trying to get there,” Whitaker added. “One thing about it: we’re not going to stop until we get there.”

Tigers left-hander Bill Krueger (0-2), making only his second start of the season, lasted only two innings plus two batters. He gave up five runs on five hits.