Baltimore survives late Washington rally for fourth straight win
Posted: Sat May 17 10:30 PM
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis and Jay Payton each hit two-run homers, as the surging Orioles held off Washington, 6-5, in the middle installment of a three-game interleague series.
Markakis finished with three RBI as Baltimore won its fourth straight and has seven victories in its last eight contests. Alex Cintron went 4-for-4, while Melvin Mora had two hits with an RBI and scored twice.
Brian Burres (4-4) snapped a three-start losing streak by allowing four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings. The lefty walked two and had three strikeouts to post his first victory since April 26 against the White Sox.
Aaron Boone had a two-run single and Ryan Zimmerman homered for the Nationals, losers in six of their last nine games.
Odalis Perez (1-4) was charged with 10 hits and six runs through five innings in suffering the loss in the Battle of the Beltways.
The Nationals scored three times in the eighth inning and had the bases loaded with two outs, but the Orioles barely kept the lead. Wily Mo Pena singled off Chad Bradford to lead off, and one out later Cristian Guzman singled. Dennis Sarfate then came on in relief, but he walked Dmitri Young and Boone followed with a two-run single to left for a 6-4 margin.
Jim Johnson was summoned from the bullpen, but he walked Wil Nieves on a 3-2 pitch. Johnson then had Lastings Milledge in an 0-2 hole, but then hit him with a pitch in the back to force in Washington's fifth run. However, Austin Kearns swung through a 3-2 pitch from Johnson to strand three runners.
George Sherrill retired the side in order in the ninth to record his 17th save.
Mora doubled in the first inning and scored on Markakis' base hit to center, but the Nationals tied it in the second on a Jesus Flores RBI groundout.
Brian Roberts doubled to left to begin the Baltimore third, stole a base and then scored on a Mora single to left. Markakis followed with his eighth homer of the year, a blast to center field.
Zimmerman homered leading off the fourth, but the Orioles expanded their lead to four runs in the next inning. Kevin Millar legged out an infield hit to begin the inning, and with two outs Payton homered to left field. Game Notes
Flores was ejected by home plate umpire Tim McClelland in the bottom of the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes...John Lannan (3-4) will oppose Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie (2-3) on Sunday...Markakis has reached base safely in 38 of 42 games played this year...Baltimore is 11-5 in one-run games...Sherrill is tied with the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez for the most saves in the majors this year.