BALTIMORE (AP) -- In his first game back after a month on the disabled list, Mike Bordick wasn't about to let Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove use a pinch hitter with the go-ahead run on third base.

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"Everybody loves to be in those situations,'' Bordick said. "I really didn't think he was going to let me hit, since I haven't faced live pitching. So I hustled up there before he could pull me back.''

Bordick delivered a clutch two-out single, highlighting a four-run seventh inning that carried the Orioles past the Detroit Tigers 7-3 Saturday night.

John Stephens earned his first major league win and Marty Cordova had three hits and two RBI for the Orioles, who trailed 3-1 before sending nine men to the plate in the seventh.

Limited to two singles over the first six innings, Baltimore got five hits in the seventh against Mark Redman (7-11) and two relievers.

The biggest one came from Bordick, who was placed on the disabled list July 16 with a broken right kneecap.

"It felt great to go out there and help the team win. The last
couple days I've had the butterflies thinking about this,'' he
said. "I get nervous for every game, but when you miss a month and
watch your teammates playing hard, you just want to be out there so
bad.''

Stephens (1-2), making his fourth start in the majors, allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. Using a mixture of 83 mph fastballs and a looping 59 mph curveball, the Australian recorded a career-high nine strikeouts.

"He changed speeds well, and his big, slow curveball kept them
off balance,'' Hargrove said. "He certainly was not as nervous
going into this start, and he had good command of all his
pitches.''

Carlos Pena homered and Damian Jackson had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, now 33-11 when leading after six innings.

Redman was cruising until the seventh, when his right leg collapsed on the front of the mound as he threw ball four to Gary Matthews Jr.

"I was trying to drop a fastball in right there and just overdrove my landing area,'' Redman said. "I sort of slipped and my right knee gave out on me and I just fell down.''

The left-hander stayed on, striking out Tony Batista before allowing a single to Jeff Conine and an RBI single to Cordova.

That ended Redman's night. Afterward, he said his leg was fine, and that he wished manager Luis Pujols would let him finish what he started.

"Tough decision for him, but I feel like he shouldn't have taken me out,'' Redman said. "He's said in the past that it's your ball game to win or lose. Tonight, I didn't have a chance to do it.''

Jamie Walker came in and retired Chris Richard on a flyball, but
Geronimo Gil singled on the first pitch from Fernando Rodney,
scoring Conine with the tying run.

Bordick then bounced a single to left -- his first RBI since July
15. As it turned out, Hargrove never thought about going to the
bench to replace his slick-fielding shortstop.

"He's a veteran player. He's been to the postseason, he's been
there, done that,'' Hargrove said. "He has the experience to draw
off to be able to produce in those situations. He obviously came up
big for us tonight.''

Jerry Hairston singled in a run to cap the uprising, and the Orioles used RBI doubles by Cordova and Richard to pad the margin in the eighth.

Baltimore improved to 10-44 when trailing after six innings. Two
of those wins have come against Detroit.

Bordick did more than just star at the plate. He also started
two double plays, including one that enabled Stephens to avoid
allowing a first-inning run for the first time in his four starts.

Baltimore took a 1-0 lead in the second. Conine drew a one-out
walk, took second on a single by Cordova and scored on a sacrifice
fly by Richard.

Stephens struck out four of the first eight batters before Chris
Truby hit a two-out double in the third and scored on an
opposite-field bloop by Jackson.

The Tigers went up 3-1 in the fourth when Pena followed a single
by Randall Simon with his 13th homer.

Game notes
Jackson is 28-for-78 (.359) with runners on. ... To make
room for Bordick, the Orioles optioned INF Jose Leon to Triple-A
Rochester. ... Simon has hit safely in 21 of 23 games. ... Eight of
Pena's homers have come with at least one runner on.