Oakland, CA – Nick Markakis and Adam Jones hit back-to-back homers to highlight a four-run fourth inning as the Baltimore Orioles downed the Oakland Athletics 7-3, at The Coliseum.
Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy added one RBI apiece for the Orioles, who will go for the four-game sweep on Sunday.
"We have struggled here, but it is a good way to start a road trip, winning the first three games of the series, and hopefully we'll get the sweep (Sunday)," Markakis said.
Chris Tillman (1-1) gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out seven over six frames. Jim Johnson battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to earn his 10th save of the season.
Josh Donaldson went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI and Josh Reddick drove in a run for the A's, losers in eight of their last nine games.
A.J. Griffin (2-2) was tagged for four runs on five hits while striking out seven over seven frames to absorb the loss.
Oakland scored a run in both the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Brandon Moss opened the second with a base hit to left field before scoring on Donaldson's double down the left field line.
Donaldson delivered again in the third. With Seth Smith on second, Donaldson roped a grounder up the middle. The ball bounced off the left foot of Tillman and into shallow right field. John Flaherty fielded the ball cleanly and fired home, but Smith was able to beat the throw.
Baltimore answered with a four-run fourth inning to take the lead. Manny Machado worked a lead off walk and Markakis and Jones followed with back-to- back homers to put the O's ahead. Hardy's RBI single to center made it 4-2.
"Griffin pitched well pretty much every inning but one. When you give up four runs in one inning its going to cost you. it shouldn't, but we're not putting up runs right now," Melvin said.
The O's added two more runs in the eighth. McLouth opened the frame with a homer and Davis scored Machado with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 6-2.
Oakland got one back in the home half as Moss scored on Reddick's sacrifice fly to center.
McLouth's RBI single in the ninth gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.
Pedro Strop put the first two runners on in the home half after hitting Adam Rosales with a pitch and walking Coco Crisp, and was quickly replaced by Johnson.
Johnson gave up a single to John Jaso to load the bases. Smith flew out to left field, but it wasn't deep enough to get Rosales home, and Johnson was able to get Jed Lowrie to ground into a game-ending double play.
Over 14 innings pitched this season, Johnson has allowed just one earned run.
Game Notes
Davis has 25 RBI this season ... Baltimore was 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and the A's were 2-for-14 ... Oakland is just 4-10 since winning nine straight earlier this season.
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