Orioles 12, Tigers 3: Nelson Cruz homered and drove in three and host Baltimore exploded for eight runs in the eighth inning to blow away Detroit in Game 1 of their American League Division Series.

Nick Markakis recorded a go-ahead RBI single in the second and J.J. Hardy hit a solo homer before Jonathan Schoop and Alejandro De Aza each contributed a two-run double in the eighth for the Orioles, who host Game 2 on Friday. Chris Tillman (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six in five innings before turning it over to the bullpen.

Max Scherzer (0-1) gave up three runs in the first two innings before settling in and was charged with five runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 frames. Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game in the second before Markakis’ single put Baltimore in front for good, and Miguel Cabrera added a solo blast for the Tigers.

Markakis reached out for changeup off the plate and dumped it into short right to make it 3-2, and Hardy’s solo blast into the bullpen in left-center made it a two-run gap in the seventh. Cabrera’s solo shot in the eighth cut the deficit to one, but relievers Joba Chamberlain, Joakim Soria and Phil Coke combined to allow seven runs while recording two outs in the bottom of the frame.

Cruz, who led the majors with 40 home runs in the regular season, came up with two out and Markakis on in the first and ripped a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center for a 2-0 lead. Victor Martinez led off the second with a blast to right before J.D. Martinez followed and took a 2-1 fastball the opposite way over the wall in right to tie it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The last time teammates with the same last name hit back-to-back home runs came when Frank and Brooks Robinson turned the trick for the Orioles in 1966. … Cruz has seven home runs in his last seven playoff games against Detroit, dating back to the 2011 ALCS when he was a member of the Texas Rangers. … Baltimore’s 12 runs mark a franchise playoff high.