O's edge Yanks on 9th-inning blast from Davis
NEW YORK -- Chris Davis led off the ninth inning with his Major League-leading 41st home run on Tuesday, helping to lift the Orioles to a 2-1 victory over the Yankees, marking Baltimore's fourth win in its last 19 games.
Davis' go-ahead, opposite-field shot came off left-hander Chasen Shreve. The slugger has now tallied 18 home runs that have either tied the game or given the Orioles the lead.
"He's a freak," Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman said. "He just continues to do those type of things. Seems like every time we need a big hit, he's coming up to bat that inning and he's doing it. He's an awesome guy, too. Just all-around great, great to be around."
The Yankees took the hard-luck loss and fell 1 1/2 games back of the Blue Jays in the American League East chase despite a sterling outing from Masahiro Tanaka. The right-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning while permitting six hits and a walk.
"He was great tonight; one run in eight innings," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You can't ask for any more. We just didn't come up with a big hit."
The Orioles' lone scoring blow off Tanaka came in the sixth inning on Ryan Flaherty's full-count, line-drive homer to right field. Alex Rodriguez also hit a sixth-inning home run, his 30th, off Gausman, who worked five-plus innings.
The victory was credited to Darren O'Day in relief, with O's lefty T.J. McFarland also coming up big with 2 1/3 scoreless frames. McFarland has not allowed an earned run to the Yankees in his last 11 appearances.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Davis' power surge continues: In seven games in September, Davis has six home runs as the pending free agent continues his late-season surge. Davis has 102 RBIs in 136 games, and while his slugging percentage is higher against righties, his batting average against left-handed pitching is actually better at .293. More >
"It's good. Coming up with the Rangers, I felt like I always hit the ball well against left-handers in the Minor Leagues. Obviously, the big leagues are a little bit different story," Davis said. "But over the past few years I've just made little adjustments here and there and I tried to do everything I can to not overswing or go up there and look for a certain pitch. Just try to see the ball and hit it and it's worked out for me."
A-Rod's history lesson: A-Rod's sixth-inning homer was his 30th of the year, giving him 15 career seasons of 30 or more homers, tying Hank Aaron for the most all time. It was also Rodriguez's 3,056th career hit, surpassing Rickey Henderson for sole possession of 22nd place on the all-time hits list. Next up is Craig Biggio (3,060). More >
"It's great. I never thought I'd have much expectations," Rodriguez said. "But right now, I'm focusing on every at-bat, just trying to help the team win."
Video: BAL@NYY: A-Rod blasts solo homer, 30th of the year
Ryan dazzles: Third baseman Brendan Ryan contributed one of the Yanks' best defensive plays of the season in the seventh inning, diving to his left on a hard Jonathan Schoop smash, gloving the ball and firing to second to begin a 5-4-3 double play. Not only did Ryan ensure some highlight-reel time, but the play might have saved a run as Matt Wieters doubled later in the inning off Tanaka and was stranded at second base. More >
"We didn't get the win, but at the moment, it was a big play," Ryan said. "It was exciting to be a part of that and it was good to see Masa get fired up, too."
Video: BAL@NYY: Ryan's diving play begins great double play
Gausman comes up short: The O's righty lasted just five-plus innings, the 10th consecutive start in which a Baltimore pitcher hasn't completed six innings. Gausman got more comfortable as the game went on and was able to pitch out of several jams. He also kept former Grandview High School teammate Greg Bird in check, as Bird struck out in both at-bats against Gausman. More >
"We actually went to dinner last night and I was joking, 'I'm going to strike you out every one of your at-bats,'" Gausman said with a grin. "But he also said he was going to hit a home run off me, so it goes both ways. It's pretty cool. To be from Colorado, it's pretty rare."
Video: BAL@NYY: Gausman K's high school teammate Bird
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Tanaka has struck out at least 10 in six career games, with two of those outings coming against the Orioles.
REPLAY REVIEW
The Yankees successfully challenged a call at first base in the sixth inning, as Davis was ruled out on what was initially scored an infield single. After review, second baseman Stephen Drew's throw to Tanaka covering was shown to have beaten Davis to the bag. The Yanks have had 18 of 25 challenges overturned this season.
Video: BAL@NYY: Tanaka barely beats Davis to first, ends 6th
Baltimore unsuccessfully challenged a call at third base in the ninth inning, when Jimmy Paredes was ruled to have been caught stealing on the tag by Ryan. After review, the call on the field was confirmed, ending the inning.
Video: BAL@NYY: McCann throws out Paredes, completes DP
WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9, 4.24 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium as the righty tries to reverse a poor second half. Jimenez did earn a win in his last start in Toronto, despite issuing six walks.
Yankees: CC Sabathia (4-9, 5.27 ERA) will return from the disabled list on Wednesday as the Yankees complete the three-game series with Baltimore. Sabathia will be making his first start since Aug. 23 due to right knee inflammation. The left-hander is 18-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 career starts vs. the Orioles.
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