Suzuki leads Yankees past O's
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano each hit two- run homers to lift the New York Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles, 8-5, in the opener of a three-game series.
Robinson Cano went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Yankees, who started a 10-game homestand on Friday. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Reynolds added an RBI apiece.
"We got behind and were able to come back a couple times," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We had a huge inning, some big home runs, some big base hits by some guys. It was a nice job."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
New York starter CC Sabathia (12-11) allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. The big left-hander improved to 18-5 lifetime against Baltimore.
The Yankees remained eight games behind Boston for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox beat the White Sox on Friday.
Danny Valencia hit a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have lost three of their last four games. Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Nick Markakis each drove in a run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Miguel Gonzalez (8-7) got the start for Baltimore and gave up seven runs on six hits over four-plus innings.
"Sometimes the game is going to speed up on you," Gonzalez said. "I was feeling well at the beginning and then towards the end I was just leaving balls up."
The first hit of the game was recorded in the top of the fourth. Machado hit a ground-rule double down the right-field line, moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on Davis' single up the middle.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
New York, however, responded with two runs in the bottom half. Cano worked a two-out walk and scored on Soriano's homer to right.
Baltimore jumped back in front with a three-run fifth. Markakis reached base on an infield single and crossed the plate on Valencia's blast over the wall in left-center field. Alexi Casilla walked, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and raced home on Machado's single to left.
Once again, the Yankees had an answer. The home team scored five runs in the bottom half to take a 7-4 lead. Curtis Granderson led off with a double to right and scored on Reynolds' double to left. Suzuki followed with a homer to right. Austin Romine doubled, Brett Gardner singled and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases with no outs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
T.J. McFarland came in from the bullpen and Cano greeted him with a two-run single to right. After Soriano grounded into a fielder's choice, Rodriguez grounded into a double play.
The Orioles managed to get one run back in the sixth. Adam Jones doubled to left-center field and raced home on Markakis' two-out single to right.
Rodriguez's RBI single in the seventh made it 8-5 New York.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Mariano Rivera tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his 39th save of the season.
Game Notes
Despite Friday's loss, the Orioles lead the season series by a 7-6 margin ... Gonzalez fell to 2-2 lifetime against the Yankees ... New York had 13 hits, compared to nine for Baltimore ... Markakis and Reynolds each had three hits.