Markakis Homers In 11th, Orioles Beat Nats 2-1
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nick Markakis homered into the second deck in right field to give the Baltimore Orioles a 2-1 win in 11 innings over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Markakis' blast off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus (2-1) helped the Orioles improve to 6-2 in extra innings with all six victories coming on the road.
The first-place Orioles have won four straight.
Four Orioles relievers followed starter Jake Arrieta, including Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the 10th inning. Pedro Strop allowed two runners to reach in the 11th inning before finishing off the Nationals for his third save.
Arrieta matched his career-high with nine strikeouts. He allowed one run and six hits, walking one in seven innings.
Edwin Jackson matched him, allowing one run in eight innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Adam Jones drove home the Orioles first run with a first inning infield single against Jackson. Washington's Ian Desmond tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arrieta.
Arrieta entered the game having allowed 13 earned runs over his last two starts, including seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Sunday. No signs of that pitcher existed in the series opener.
Matt Wieters helped his pitcher by throwing out Bryce Harper and Jesus Flores attempting to steal second base.
Harper, 19, was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Xavier Avery led off the Orioles first inning with a walk and one out later moved to third on Markakis' double to left center. Jones sent a sharp grounder off Jackson's left heel. The ball caromed behind the mound, allowing Avery to score from third.
Jackson escaped further damage by inducing Wieters into an inning-ending double play grounder. He then settled in, striking out the side in the second inning.
Held scoreless by Arrieta through five innings, the Nationals tied the game in the sixth on Desmond's sixth home run of the season, landing deep in the left field stands.
NOTES: Jones extended his hitting streak to 10 games for the third time this season. Nationals OF Michael Morse (back) is expected to begin an extended spring training assignment on Monday at the Nationals camp in Viera, Fla., manager Davey Johnson said. Morse has not played in a game this season. The Nationals game against the Miami Marlins that was rained out on April 22 has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 3. Saturday's pitching matchup pits Orioles RHP Jason Hammel against Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
