Orioles Team Up to Defeat the A’s

Doug Johns and three relievers combined for a seven-hitter and Brady Anderson’s infield single in the fifth inning scored the go-ahead run as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Oakland Athletics, 5-2, Tuesday night.

Arthur Rhodes (4-4) relieved Doug Johns, who was one out away from being the pitcher of record, with two on and two out in the fifth and the Orioles leading, 3-2. Rhodes got the last out of the fifth and pitched two more scoreless innings.

Alan Mills pitched the eighth and Armando Benitez retired the side in the ninth for his 20th save.

Baltimore took the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth against Gil Heredia (3-1). B.J. Surhoff led off with a single and moved to second on Chris Hoiles’ sacrifice. Mike Bordick’s double tied the score, 2-2.

After Roberto Alomar’s grounder moved Bordick to third, Anderson drove him in when he beat out an infield single up the middle, just ahead of second baseman Scott Spiezio’s throw in the dirt.

Oakland struck back in the fourth against Johns on back-to-back, two-out home runs by Miguel Tejada and A.J. Hinch. The homers were the ninth of the season for both players.

Heredia gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking none.