Birds Best Yankees

The Baltimore Orioles took two out of three from their AL East rival the New York Yankees to finish their first home stand with a 5-4 record.

After splitting the first two games of the series Baltimore used a five run sixth inning to best the Yankees 7-5 in the series finale. Pitcher Bud Norris (0-1), who struggled in the home opener giving up eight runs in a three inning 12-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays who took two of three from the Birds, redeemed himself, going five innings striking out seven while walking two and giving up three runs.

After taking a 7-3 lead into the eighth inning, reliever Tommy Hunter  who gave up a grand slam in the 6-5 loss in the first game of the series with the Yankees, struggled again, giving up two runs but did strike out Alex Rodriguez, back from his year-long suspension and playing third base.

Closer Zach Britton was not as sharp as usual giving up a double and a walk before settling down and recording his third save of the season.

The offense which pounded out 15 hits was led by Chris Davis who went 2-5 with three RBIs. Jonathan Schoop went two for three with his third home run in that five run sixth inning.  Alejandro De Aza went 2-5 including his first triple of the season. Third baseman Manny Machado got his first homer of the year in the fourth inning.

In game one against the Yanks, the Birds took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning but reliever Hunter gave up that grand slam to Stephen Drew which led to the 6-5 defeat.

Center fielder Adam Jones led the way offensively going 3-4 with two RBIs. De Aza and catcher Caleb Joseph each went 2-4 in a losing effort.

The Orioles bounced back in the second game of the series winning 4-3. The hero was pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) who struck out a career-high 10 Yankees in seven innings of work. He now has an ERA of 1.42. He gave up one run while walking one. Closer Britton recorded his first-ever four out save, his second of the year.

Center fielder Adam Jones, who is off to a great start and is batting over .400, provided the offense, hitting his fourth homer of the season while driving in two runs. Catcher Joseph, filling in for injured starter Matt Wieters, went 2-3 with one RBI while hitting his first triple of the season in a winning effort for the Orioles.