Taking flight? 4 homers good sign for Orioles

BALTIMORE -- If they are going to get to the postseason, the Orioles will need more -- plenty more -- games like this.

Friday's series opener against the Yankees brought a welcome sign, and perhaps a sign of things to come, for an inconsistent club as the O's hit four home runs to back starter Dylan Bundy and easily outdistance their pursuers in the American League Wild Card race, 8-0.

The Orioles remained in a tie with the Tigers for the second AL Wild Card spot and expanded their lead over the Astros to two games, while pushing the Yankees 3 1/2 games back.

Video: NYY@BAL: Orioles slug four homers against Yankees

"I turned to John [Russell, bench coach] tonight when Manny [Machado] hit the home run [in the fourth] -- I've got a really good seat, and I don't ever take it for granted, the things that they do against the best pitchers in the world," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

"It's not like they're sneaking up on anybody, either. So it's just been a consistent threat we've had all year. It's who we are, and that's OK. We'll score enough runs."

Pedro Alvarez got things going with a two-out, two-run shot off starter Chad Green that landed on Eutaw Street, his 20th. The second-inning blast -- projected by Statcast™ to travel 424 feet from home plate, with an exit velocity of 112.6 mph -- trailed only Alvarez's Aug. 5 blast (115 mph) in exit velocity.

After Machado reached, Chris Davis drove in two more off reliever Nick Goody for No. 33, and Mark Trumbo added his 41st blast to complete the back-to-back effort and a six-run inning. Machado added a two-run blast in the fourth for his 33rd of the season.

"It's a lot of fun. I think that's something we do," Trumbo said. "That's what we were hoping for in Spring Training, when we were fielding questions along the same lines. What is this offense capable of? And I think, in a lot of ways, we've had the kind of production we were looking for."

The Orioles, who have gone back to back 17 times this year, became the 19th team in MLB history to have at least six players with 20 or more home runs. The last team to accomplish that feat was the 2010 Blue Jays.

"Not too surprised that this team has been able to do such a feat," Alvarez said, "and we definitely have the caliber of players to do so."