Davis Powers Orioles To 10-3 Victory At San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Chris Davis hit his major league-best 41st homer in Baltimore's four-run eighth inning, helping the Orioles beat the San Diego Padres 10-3 on Wednesday.
Davis belted a tiebreaking three-run shot into the bleachers in right-center on the first pitch from Colt Hynes. Brian Roberts tacked on a sacrifice fly, and the Orioles then broke it open with three more runs in the ninth.
Luke Gregerson (5-6) allowed singles to Manny Machado and Adam Jones before Davis went deep, giving him a majors-best 106 RBIs.
Jedd Gyorko hit a tying three-run homer in the sixth for San Diego, which has dropped three of four. Alexi Amarista had two hits.
The Orioles' scoring outburst handed a win to Francisco Rodriguez (1-0), who struck out two in a perfect seventh inning. Troy Patton and Darren O'Day then combined for the final two innings.
San Diego wasted a solid start by Eric Stults, who allowed three runs, two earned, and five hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.
J.J. Hardy hit his 19th homer in the second, and the Orioles used San Diego's sloppy defense to score single runs in the fourth and fifth.
Machado reached on second baseman Gyorko's error in the fourth. Adam Jones followed with a sharp single up the middle and Machado came around to score when Amarista threw the ball into Baltimore's dugout while trying to get the runner at third.
Stults' error on pitcher Miguel Gonzalez's sacrifice in the fifth allowed the Orioles to load the bases with no outs. Nick Markakis popped out, but Machado single to center to give Baltimore a 3-0 lead.
Gonzalez struck out eight in six innings and was charged with three runs and six hits.
Gonzalez was sailing along until Gyorko's drive skidded off the top of the fence in center in the sixth. Chris Denorfia and Yonder Alonso were aboard for Gyorko's 10th homer of the season.
Hardy tacked on a two-run single in the ninth and finished with three RBIs.
NOTES: Padres OF Carlos Quentin (right knee) remained out of the starting lineup. He could be headed for the disabled list if he is unable to play this weekend in Cincinnati. "We are giving him every opportunity to get to the point where he can play whether it's in a pinch-hitter role or back on the field full bore," manager Bud Black said. "We are coming closer to the decision whether to put him on DL or whether we can wait another day or two." ... SS Ronny Cedeno, who was promoted on Tuesday, went 0 for 4 in his San Diego debut. ... Orioles RHP Jason Hammel, who is on the DL with a right flexor mass strain (between forearm and elbow), tried to throw Tuesday, but manager Buck Showalter said he's still experiencing "some discomfort" and might not be ready to come off the DL when he's eligible on Tuesday. ... Showalter said minor league LHP Tsuyoshi Wada from Japan could be a potential September call-up as a reliever and possibly a starter. He threw five scoreless innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday night and has had back-to-back scoreless outings.
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