Davis hits MLB-leading 41st HR, keeps Yanks out of first place

In a season that's become pretty frustrating for the Baltimore Orioles, they've enjoyed one constant -- the power of Chris Davis.

Davis led off the ninth inning with his major league-leading 41st home run and the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 2-1 Tuesday night for just their fourth win in 19 games.

"I thought we did a good job hanging in there," Davis said.

Baltimore has faded from contention in the wild-card race, which the Yankees lead. But they dropped 1 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Toronto.

New York failed to take advantage of Masahiro Tanaka's 10-strikeout performance and Alex Rodriguez's 30th homer -- A-Rod has reached the mark in 15 seasons, tying Hank Aaron's record.

Beyond that, the Yankees managed a mere five singles.

"We just didn't come up with the big hit tonight," manager Joe Girardi said.

Davis picked on a 2-0 pitch and homered for the sixth time in seven games, lofting an opposite-field drive into the seats in left. He was the first batter Chasen Shreve (6-2) faced after Tanaka pitched eight innings.

Davis, like Rodriguez, is enjoying a resurgent season. The Orioles' slugger led the majors with 53 home runs in 2013, but hit just 26 last year and drew a drug suspension down the stretch.

"Solid in a time of need," manager Buck Showalter said.

Darren O'Day (6-2) got two outs for the win. Zach Britton closed for his 31st save in 34 chances.

The Orioles ended a three-game skid overall and a five-game drought at Yankee Stadium despite star outfielder Adam Jones sitting out with a sore shoulder. New York lost for the third time in 11 games.

Rodriguez hit his 684th career homer leading off the sixth, making it 1-all and chasing Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman.

The 40-year-old Rodriguez hadn't hit the 30-homer mark since 2010. He didn't play last year while serving a season-long drug suspension.

The homer was A-Rod's fourth in five games and boosted his career hit total to 3,056, moving him past Rickey Henderson for 22nd place.

Gausman did get even with Yankees rookie Greg Bird, striking him out in both at-bats. Bird was Gausman's catcher in high school in Aurora, Colorado -- the last time they faced each other, Bird homered in an intrasquad game.

The two good friends went out to dinner Monday night. Gausman said he kidded that he'd strike out Bird every time, while Bird said he'd hit a home run.

"It was pretty cool," Gausman said.

Echoed Bird: "It's cool, I guess, seeing someone you grew up with out there and competing against him. It was fun."

Tanaka had given up just one scratch single before Ryan Flaherty led off the Orioles sixth by lining a home run. After a two-out single, Davis hustled for an infield hit, only to be called out on a replay review.

Third baseman Brendan Ryan cut off a potential Baltimore burst in the seventh, diving to his left to begin a nifty double play.

KINDA QUIET

The crowd of 30,785 was the second-smallest in seven seasons at the new Yankee Stadium. The lowest was 30,055 on April 29 against the Rays, STATS said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (9-11, 4.85 ERA) is doing well in his recovery from shoulder tendinitis, Showalter said. Showalter said it would be good for Gonzalez and the team to have him pitch again this season.

Yankees: OF Brett Gardner got a shot in his jammed shoulder. He hurt himself running into a wall over the weekend and hasn't started the last two games.

UP NEXT

Orioles: Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9, 4.24 ERA) tries for his 99th career win. Yankees OF Jacoby Ellsbury is 7 for 11 with two walks against the right-hander.

Yankees: CC Sabathia (4-9, 5.27) is set to come off the disabled list and start Wednesday night. He's been out with inflammation in his right knee. The big lefty is 18-7 lifetime vs. the O's.