Aug 28, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) runs while hitting a double in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE — Chris Davis lined a tiebreaking RBI double to right in the seventh inning as the Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to five games with a 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
The Orioles (66-65) moved above .500 for the first time since June 11. They sit 1 1/2 games behind the idle Minnesota Twins in the race for the second American League wild card.
Seattle (66-66) trails Baltimore by one-half game.
Mariners left fielder Ben Gamel set a career high with five RBIs. He hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, then lined a two-run single to center in the sixth, tying the score 6-6.
The Orioles came through in the seventh. Trey Mancini singled off Emilio Pagan (1-3), and Davis followed with a double into the right field corner. Mancini scored from first when right fielder Mitch Haniger momentarily had problems coming up with the ball, giving the Orioles the 7-6 lead.
Donnie Hart (2-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless seventh.
Darren O’Day worked out of a jam in the eighth before Zach Britton closed it in the ninth for his 12th save, the first since his 60-save streak ended last week against the Oakland A’s.
Chris Tillman started for Baltimore, but control issues burned him again. He gave up six runs and just three hits — two of which were homers — but allowed four walks. They all scored in his 5 1/3 innings. He struck out one.
Tillman is winless in 16 consecutive starts thanks to his no-decision.
Seattle starter Marco Gonzales lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits.
Tillman retired the first five batters in a row before Valencia gave Seattle a 1-0 lead with a second-inning homer to center.
The Orioles answered in the bottom of the second thanks to Welington Castillo’s two-run single. They stretched the lead to 3-1 in the third on a soft single to right from Jonathan Schoop that drove in Manny Machado.
Seattle reclaimed the lead in the fourth on Gamel’s three-run homer off Tillman.
The Orioles then scored twice in the bottom of the inning, once on a Craig Gentry single, and they took a 5-4 lead when Gonzales hit Tim Beckham with a pitch with the bases loaded.
Jones made it 6-4 with a leadoff homer against Christian Bergman in the fifth.
NOTES: The Orioles recalled LHP Donnie Hart from Triple-A Norfolk, and RHP Mike Wright was sent back to the Tides. … Baltimore CF Adam Jones’ homer was his 25th, the seventh straight season he has reached that level, setting a team record. He passed Cal Ripken Jr. … Seattle RHP Christian Bergman’s contract was selected from Triple-A Tacoma. The Mariners optioned RHP Dan Altavilla to Tacoma. … Seattle LF Ben Gamel’s three-run homer in the fourth inning ended an 0-for-8 slide.
