Baltimore, MD – Jake Arrieta pitched seven strong innings and Chris Davis hit a two-run home run and drove in three as the Baltimore Orioles took a 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of three games from Camden Yards.
Arrieta (3-8) hadn't won since May 2, dropping six straight decisions. On Tuesday, though, he gave up just one run on seven hits with a walk and nine strikeouts to get the win.
"He had good command of his fastball and had a good tempo tonight," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter about Arrieta.
Wilson Betemit went 3-for-3 with a solo homer, three RBI and two runs scored while J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds each scored twice for the Orioles, who have won four straight and six of eight.
"Whenever you're at home you want to win as many games as you can," said Davis. "Especially in this division with all the teams playing so good, you want to take advantage of the home turf."
Kevin Correia (3-5) was tagged for five runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits over six innings to take the loss for the Pirates, who have dropped the first two of this set after winning four straight. Neil Walker drove in the lone run for the Bucs.
"The game is pretty simple when you break it down and they've outplayed us in these games," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. "So it shouldn't surprise anyone here that we're down two. We have a chance to go out and win the game tomorrow and that's what I'm looking for."
The Orioles struck in the first inning when Hardy singled with one out and Davis followed with a double to left for a 1-0 lead.
Baltimore plated two more in the second. Reynolds led off with a single and came home on a Betemit double. Steve Pearce followed with a single for a 3-0 lead. Correia was able to limit the damage by retiring the next three batters.
It was a 4-0 game in the fourth inning as Reynolds reached third to start the inning on a double coupled with an Alex Presley error and came home on a sacrifice fly from Betemit.
Betemit hit his home run in the sixth inning, his eighth of the year, for a 5-0 lead.
The Pirates had loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but it was with two outs and Clint Barmes hit into a fielder's choice to end the frame.
Pittsburgh did get on the board in the seventh on a Walker groundout that plated Jose Tabata, but Davis answered in the bottom of the inning on a broken-bat shot over the wall in right with Hardy on base for a 7-1 lead.
Game Notes
Brian Matusz was scheduled to start for Baltimore, but had his start moved to Friday against the Braves. He suffered a contusion to his nose while practicing bunting...Pittsburgh went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10...Baltimore will go for the sweep on Thursday with Tommy Hunter on the mound... Erik Bedard will take the mound for Pittsburgh.
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