Soriano Hits 2 HRs as Yankees beat Orioles 7-5

(AP) Soriano hits 2 HRs as Yankees beat Orioles 7-5
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE
Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs, including a tiebreaking shot in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees rallied past the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 Tuesday night to end a six-game losing streak at Camden Yards.

Mark Reynolds also homered for the Yankees, who won for the second time in six games to bolster their postseason hopes. New York still trails Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Cleveland in the hunt for the final AL wild-card slot.

Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 49th home run for the Orioles and raised his RBI total to 126. Baltimore led 4-1 in the fifth inning before faltering.

Soriano and Reynolds launched the comeback with solo homers in the sixth off Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez.

Alex Rodriguez led off the eighth with a double against rookie Kevin Gausman (2-5) and Robinson Cano delivered an RBI single. Soriano followed with a two-run shot to center, his 15th homer in 43 games since New York reacquired him in a July 26 trade with the Chicago Cubs. Successive doubles by Curtis Granderson and Reynolds off Francisco Rodriguez made it 7-4.

Adam Warren (2-2) pitched a perfect seventh, Shawn Kelley gave up a sacrifice fly to Matt Wieters in the eighth and Mariano Rivera got four straight outs for his 650th career save. He has converted 42 of 49 chances this year.

The victory was manager Joe Girardi’s 556th with the Yankees, tying Billy Martin for sixth place on the franchise list. Girardi and Orioles manager Buck Showalter did not cross paths on the diamond after exchanging angry words Monday night over Baltimore allegedly stealing signs.

New York took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double by Alex Rodriguez, but the advantage dissipated in the fifth. Three straight singles off Yankees starter Ivan Nova produced a run, and with runners at second and third Nick Markakis hit a fly to left. After Brian Roberts tagged up and headed home, Rodriguez cut off the throw from Soriano between third base and the mound, causing catcher Chris Stewart to raise his arms with a quizzical look because there was no other play on the bases.

One out later, Davis drove a breaking pitch into the center-field seats. He needs one home run to tie the franchise record of 50, set by Brady Anderson in 1996.

NOTES: Andy Pettitte (10-9) will pitch for New York against Baltimore RHP Scott Feldman on Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game series. … The Yankees signed LHP Mike Zagurski to fortify the bullpen. Zagurski, who opted out of his minor league contract with Oakland on Sept. 1, arrived in Baltimore on Tuesday. New York transferred DH Travis Hafner (shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Zagurski on the 40-man roster, most likely ending Hafner’s season. … Davis misplayed a grounder to first base, giving the Orioles 42 errors with 21 games left. The record low for a 162-game season is 65 by the 2003 Seattle Mariners. … Yankees reliever David Robertson (shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen and said he “didn’t have any problems.” Girardi said he expects Robertson to be available Wednesday. … Girardi said SS Derek Jeter (sore ankle) is “still in a holding pattern.”