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 J.J Hardy homered twice, including a three-run shot, while Manny
Machado also hit a three-run blast as the Orioles banged out a
season-high six homers in a 12-2 victory over the St. Louis
Cardinals on Friday night at Camden Yards.
When the late Earl Weaver managed the Orioles during their glory
days, he loved three-run homers. He didn't enjoy playing small ball
or manufacturing runs but instead lived for power. That's what the
Orioles used in this game as the team celebrated their 60th
anniversary season and were able to get a good look at their past
and show them what might be coming in the future.
"I've still got chills," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We
all just came up the runway, and all the Hall of Famers are greeting
our guys as they come off the field. That was pretty cool."
Hardy hadn't homered since July 19, and posted his first multi-homer
game this season with his three-run and solo shots.
He finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, but the shortstop said he's not
going up there looking to homer every time.
"I'm just trying to hit the ball hard," Hardy said. "You can't try
and hit home runs. It's just not going to work."
Machado's early three-run homer gave the Orioles a four-run lead in
the second inning and put Baltimore in command.
The young third baseman was impressed by all of the famous Orioles
of years past who were at the park. Before the game, he got to talk
to Frank Robinson, who gave him some advice - basically, just keep
doing your thing -- and enjoyed seeing everyone.
"Having these guys around today -- it helps a lot, especially
younger players," Machado said. "It helps out the team just to pick
their brains. They're Hall of Famers, they're the best of the best,
so if you can pick their brain and see how they were successful in
their careers and seasons it's (good)."
Second baseman Ryan Flaherty (two-run homer), first baseman Chris
Davis (solo homer) and center fielder Adam Jones (solo homer) added
blasts for the Orioles (66-49). Jones came out after he got hit on
the knee in the sixth, but Showalter said he's fine.
The Orioles' previous season high for home runs came July 7 when
they hit four against Washington.
"This is baseball," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "This
happens. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you do. (It was) one of
those nights."
The home runs gave Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (9-5) plenty of
support. He gave up just two runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings and
rarely found any trouble.
He said it was nice to see all those homers from his teammates give
him a big lead, especially on a night when so much seemed to be
working.
"I felt good," Tillman said. "I think it was one of those nights
where everything kind of clicked for me, and I was able to execute
most of my pitches."
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The only offense the Cardinals (61-53) could muster against Tillman came
on catcher A.J. Pierzynski's two-run homer in the seventh inning, a shot
that ended the right-hander's night.
The Orioles scored in five straight innings -- the second through sixth --
and ended up with 15 hits overall. It also was just the second time in
club history that they hit more than one homer off three pitchers in the
same game -- St. Louis starter Justin Masterson and left-handers Nick
Greenwood and Sam Freeman each gave up two.
This victory gives the Orioles a five-game lead over the Yankees, who
beat Cleveland, and a six-game edge over the Blue Jays. Detroit rallied
for a 5-4 victory over Toronto in their matchup.
Masterson (1-1) didn't fare nearly as well as Tillman in his second
start with the Cardinals since they acquired him last month from the
Indians. He allowed five runs and seven hits -- including two homers --
in two innings plus four batters. The right-hander also hit two batters.
Baltimore took charge in the second as catcher Nick Hundley's one-out
RBI single put the Orioles up 1-0. Later in the inning, Machado jumped
on Masterson's first pitch and belted a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
Hardy started the third inning with a solo homer off Masterson. The
shortstop came through again in the fourth, lining a three-run homer to
left off Greenwood to give the Orioles an 8-0 lead.
Jones added a solo homer off Greenwood in the fifth to make it 9-0.
Davis and Flaherty both homered in the sixth for the final three runs.
NOTES: The Orioles are wearing their 1954 uniforms as they're
celebrating the franchise's 60th anniversary on Friday. Several Oriole
greats from the team's glory years came to a luncheon earlier in the day
and talked with the media. ... C Caleb Joseph left during the team's
pregame workout due to a family medical issue. ... The Cardinals placed
RHP Jason Motte on the 15-day disabled list on Friday due to a lower
back sprain. He started the season on the DL while recovering from Tommy
John surgery. ... LHP Nick Greenwood was recalled from Triple-A Memphis
to take Motte's spot. This is his second stint with the team this
season, having pitched with the Cardinals from June 15-July 22.
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