masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOn the night they honored Brooks Robinson, the Orioles’ 20-year-old third baseman, Manny Machado, started a nifty double play and drove in two runs as the Orioles beat Boston 4-3 to move into a first-place tie with the Yankees. The eighth sellout of the year of 46,311 roared its approval at Camden Yards.

Both the Orioles and Yankees are 91-67 with four games to play.

The Oakland A’s won today and remain one game back of the Orioles for the AL’s top wild card spot. The Orioles’ magic…On the night they honored Brooks Robinson, the Orioles’ 20-year-old third baseman, Manny Machado, started a nifty double play and drove in two runs as the Orioles beat Boston 4-3 to move into a first-place tie with the Yankees. The eighth sellout of the year of 46,311 roared its approval at Camden Yards.

Both the Orioles and Yankees are 91-67 with four games to play.

The Oakland A’s won today and remain one game back of the Orioles for the AL’s top wild card spot. The Orioles’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth is reduced from three to two.

The Orioles are now 28-9 in one-run games.

Machado’s seventh homer of the year, a solo shot leading off the seventh off Felix Doubront broke a 3-3 tie. He singled in the O’s first run in the last of the second. Over his past three games, Machado is 6-for-11 with three homers and six RBIs.

Chris Davis hit another homer – his fourth in three games – a two-run shot in the fourth. He went 2-for-3 and is 13-for-29 (.448) during an eight-game batting streak.

Steve Johnson got the start and allowed three runs and four hits over five-plus innings. Johnson had a scoreless streak of 20 1/3 innings over his last seven games end when Jarrold Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

Tommy Hunter got the win in relief, pitching two scoreless innings.

The win was the Orioles’ 10th in the last 13 games, 18th in 26 games and 36th over the last 52 contests. They are 46-34 at home and 41-27 against the AL East.

The Birds had to win tonight to get even with New York. They did as they moved closer to a possible AL East title, which would be the club’s first since 1997.