masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt was just about one month ago. Zach Britton did not survive the first inning in a loss at Yankee Stadium on July 30. He gave up nine runs and seven hits in just one-third of an inning.

Today, he shut out the same club over seven innings, leading the Orioles to a 2-0 win over New York in game one of a day-night doubleheader.

Britton allowed just four hits – all singles – over seven innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 120 pitches, 73 for strikes. His 120 pitches is a…It was just about one month ago. Zach Britton did not survive the first inning in a loss at Yankee Stadium on July 30. He gave up nine runs and seven hits in just one-third of an inning.

Today, he shut out the same club over seven innings, leading the Orioles to a 2-0 win over New York in game one of a day-night doubleheader.

Britton allowed just four hits – all singles – over seven innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 120 pitches, 73 for strikes. His 120 pitches is a season-high for an O’s starter this year.

He did not allow one Yankees runner to reach second base in improving to 8-9 with an ERA of 4.28. In two starts since returning from the disabled list, Britton has allowed one run and 10 hits over 12 innings.

Jim Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Kevin Gregg finished the shutout with a scoreless ninth, recording his 19th save. He got Alex Rodriguez to ground into a double play to end the game.

Over the last six games, Orioles starting pitchers have worked to an ERA of 1.80.

The game was a 0-0 contest until the last of the seventh. Nick Markakis led off with a double against Bartolo Colon and, with one out, scored on a Vlad Guerrero single to right. A J.J. Hardy RBI single in the eighth made it a 2-0 game and extended Hardy’s hit streak to ten games.

The Orioles have now won six in a row, out-scoring their opponents 38-9 in the process. They were 1-9 this year against the Yankees coming into this series, but have now won the first two games.

This is the Orioles first six-game win streak since April 2-8, 2008. In tonight’s contest set for a 7:35 start, Brian Matusz (1-6, 8.92) pitches against Ivan Nova (13-4, 3.97).