Orioles rebound from run of MLB defeats with win over Rockies

BALTIMORE // The Baltimore Orioles had gone nearly a week without a victory, a stretch that included three one-run defeats in Arizona and a lopsided loss to Colorado at home. So, when they finally got to add another digit to their win total, the Orioles did not really care if the outcome was influenced by their opponents' mistakes. Brian Roberts and Manny Machado both hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning fueled by Colorado miscues, and Baltimore defeated the Rockies 8-4 on Saturday night to end a four-game skid in MLB . Adam Jones had two hits in Baltimore's highest-scoring inning of the season, which featured an error by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, two walks, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Six of the seven runs were unearned, but when it was done the Orioles had an 8-1 lead. "It was huge," winning pitcher Bud Norris said. "It was a tough stretch there in Arizona. But just to be back in the win column was huge. To have a seven-run third inning is definitely a help to any starting pitcher going out there. I just wanted to keep putting up zeroes and the bullpen really came in and picked me up, too." Norris (9-10) gave up four runs and nine hits over 5 2-3 innings to improve to 3-1 since coming to the Orioles in a trade with Houston on July 31. He was followed by a relief corps that allowed only three hits the rest of way. "This is the big leagues. The third inning with a seven-run lead is never comfortable," said Tommy Hunter, who worked the ninth. "Guys came in and threw the ball well in certain situations and got us to the end of the ballgame with a four-run lead." Most of the damage in the third inning came against Colorado rookie Chad Bettis (0-2), who allowed seven hits, four walks and eight runs in 2 2-3 innings. "It was really embarrassing," Bettis said. "I need to be better. I wasn't making the right pitches." Baltimore's third inning began with a double by Chris Davis and an infield hit by Jones. Nick Markakis followed with an RBI single, and one out later Colorado brought the infield in with runners on second and third. Steve Pearce hit a grounder that got past Tulowitzki, allowing Jones to score. "I think Tul probably looked up to see if the runner was taking off from third," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "But, he's been as good as you can possibly be at shortstop. He's not going to make every play for six months." Following the second out, Roberts doubled in two runs, Nate McLouth walked and Machado hit his major league-leading 43rd double. Adam Ottavino replaced Bettis and walked Davis before Jones delivered an RBI single for a seven-run cushion. "I've never been a part of a bad seven-run inning, when you're the one scoring it," Roberts said. "Obviously, we needed a little something to kind of jump start us and that was big, to use the extra out they gave us to put some runs on the board. Everyone kind of breathed a little sigh of relief and said, `All right. Now we're ready to go."' Dexter Fowler hit RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings for the Rockies, who lost for only the second time in eight games. Colorado stranded 11 and went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Jones had three hits and Davis picked up his 113th RBI to help the Orioles secure their first victory since beating San Francisco last Sunday. "I think people panic a little more outside the clubhouse than we do inside the clubhouse," Roberts said. "We all still feel like we are in pretty good shape." Colorado got two hits and two walks in the first inning but scored only once, when Tulowitzki bounced into a double play. In the bottom half, McLouth drew a leadoff walk, advanced on a single by Machado and came home on a fly ball by Davis. Although the Orioles left the bases loaded in the second, they made up for it in the third. Follow us

Orioles rebound from run of MLB defeats with win over Rockies

Brian Roberts and Manny Machado hit two-run doubles in seven-run third inning fueled by Colorado miscues.