Orioles Waste Norris' Solid Outing, Fall To Phillies 2-1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- One mistake cost Bud Norris on a day his hitters didn't give much support.
Ryan Howard hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Norris in the sixth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
"Unfortunately, I made a mistake with a fastball," Norris said. "I'm getting there. I'm still trying to work out all my pitches."
The Orioles won the first three games of this home-and-home series, outscoring the Phillies 29-7, including a 19-3 victory at Camden Yards on Tuesday. But they couldn't do much against Sean O'Sullivan and four relievers.
Manny Machado's career-best 14th homer was his third career leadoff homer and second in three games against the Phillies. But he struck out with runners on first and third and one out in the seventh.
"We had some good swings, but we were just hitting the ball to the wrong parts of the park," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Norris (2-5) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. The righty is used to pitching without much of a lead. The Orioles have scored two runs or fewer in six of his nine starts.
"We've been playing good ball," Norris said. "We're trying to hit our stride."
The Phillies, who have the worst record in the majors at 23-45, avoided being swept in four consecutive series. They had lost 19 of 22.
Overall, Philadelphia was outscored 57-18 during its nine-game skid.
Jake Diekman (1-1) pitched a 1-2-3 sixth in relief of Sean O'Sullivan to earn the win in his first game back from a brief stint at Triple-A.
Luis Garcia struck out Machado and Travis Snider to escape a first-and-third, one-out jam in the seventh that followed a throwing error by second baseman Chase Utley. Snider struck out four times swinging and has fanned in five straight at-bats, going back to Wednesday.
"He's been swing the bat well," Showalter said. "It was a rough day for him."
Ken Giles tossed a scoreless eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 13th save in 13 tries.
Howard hit his 12th homer, connecting on a 1-2 pitch from Norris to put Philadelphia ahead.
O'Sullivan struck out a career-high seven in five innings, allowing one run and four hits.
"He was real good," Showalter said. "He didn't make many mistakes at all. We know that guys with his background have a lot of backbone."
STREAKING
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy has an 11-game hitting streak in which he's batting .390 (16 for 41).
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: OF Adam Jones (shoulder) missed his third straight game.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Mike Wright (2-2, 4.13) makes his sixth career start in the opener of a three-game series in Toronto. After not allowing a run in 14 1-3 innings in his first two outings, he has given up 13 runs in 14 innings over his last three starts.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
