Yankees 8, Orioles 5
Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano belted two-run homers and Robinson Cano delivered a two-run single in his return to the lineup as host New York struck first in a big three-game series.
Mark Reynolds had an RBI double among his three hits for the Yankees, who moved within 4 1/2 games of Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot in the American League. Baltimore sits a half-game up on New York.
Danny Valencia blasted a two-run shot and Nick Markakis had three hits and an RBI to pace the Orioles. Chris Davis added a run-scoring single in the fourth that broke a scoreless tie between Yankees starter CC Sabathia (12-11) and Miguel Gonzalez (8-7).
Soriano answered in the bottom of the fourth with his 12th home run in 32 games since joining the Yankees. Valencia's blast and Manny Machado's RBI single in the fifth gave Baltimore a 4-2 lead before Ichiro's seventh homer highlighted a five-run bottom half that gave New York the advantage for good.
Sabathia backed into a win after giving up five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, while Mariano Rivera capped 3 1/3 scoreless innings from Yankees relievers for his 39th save. Alex Rodriguez knocked in a run in the seventh as New York won for the ninth time in its last 10 home games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gonzalez was charged with seven runs in four frames and failed to strike out a batter for the second time in 38 career starts. ... Baltimore acquired OF Michael Morse from Seattle for Triple-A OF Xavier Avery. ... Cano left Tuesday's game in Toronto after getting hit in the hand with a pitch.