Another homer by Davis lifts Orioles over Twins

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis etched his name in the history books of Major League Baseball and broke the hearts of the Minnesota Twins all with one swing of the bat.

Davis hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins before a raucous 46,653 crowd at Camden Yards on Friday.

Davis has now homered in his last 11 games. He is also the first Oriole and fourth in Major League Baseball to homer in each of his first four games, joining Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998) and Nelson Cruz (2011).

He also has 16 RBIs this season in the four games, shattering the old Major League record of 12 held by three players.

"I don't think you ever envision home runs," Davis said. "I think the biggest thing for me was to get a pitch out over the plate that I could drive or at least get a sacrifice fly. When I first hit it, I thought that's what it was and it just kind of kept going. It was huge for us to get a win in our first home game."

The Orioles were hosting the Twins on Opening Day for the second consecutive year, winning last season's meeting 4-2. This time, Baltimore needed some late-game heroics to pull out an storybook victory.

Baltimore right-hander Jake Arrieta, who earned the win in last season's home opener, allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk over five innings.

Twins starter Liam Hendriks had a similar tough day by also giving up four runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout over just 4 2/3 innings.

"I don't think I was wearing down," Hendriks said. "I think I was just trying to throw a good slider and good changeup early in the count. Then, I'd try to throw a better one and I'd yank it and then it would just set them up in hitting counts. I was locating everything really well. There was some stuff that didn't go my way."

Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier matched a career-high with three RBIs and left fielder Josh Willingham went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Second baseman Eduardo Escobar also collected two hits and knocked in one run.

With the game tied at four in the sixth, Dozier singled home Ryan Doumit to give the Twins the lead. The Orioles stayed within striking distance, however, and finally put together a rally in the eighth when Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth opened the inning with back-to-back singles.

After Manny Machado moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, right-handed reliever Casey Fien intentionally walked Nick Markakis. This set up an RBI single by Adam Jones to tie the game. The Twins then brought in the left-hander Tyler Robertson and Davis hammered the first pitch over the left field fence, earning a curtain call.

"It was an exciting baseball game, unfortunately it got away from us at the end," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "There are a lot of good hitters up there and we made some mistakes. Before you know it, Davis comes up, and I think he gets a fastball and deposits it and there you have it."

Jones went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Markakis also had two hits each for the Orioles, who opened the season by winning two of three games from the Rays. Pedro Strop closed out the game for the Orioles with a scoreless ninth.

"I smiled at Gardenhire, and he smiled back," Jones said. "He walks Markakis to get to me. Doesn't make me happy. It makes me kind of mad and want to get him, and I'm just glad I was able to do it."

Baltimore opened the scoring in the third inning when McLouth singled with two outs, stole second and scored on another single by Machado.

Minnesota responded in the fourth when Josh Willingham led off with a double and Justin Morneau walked.

Arrieta almost got out of the jam by striking out Doumit and Trevor Plouffe before allowing a game-tying single to Chris Parmelee.

The Twins then took a 4-1 lead when Dozier followed with a two-run triple and Escobar singled up the middle.

Hendriks gave up back-to-back singles to Jones and Davis before allowing a walk to Matt Wieters. J.J. Hardy pulled the Orioles to within 4-2 on a fielder's choice. But Hendriks settled down and ended the threat by striking out Ryan Flaherty, and getting pop-outs from Reimold and McLouth.

"I'm glad he's on our side. His contact to damage ratio is real good right now," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Davis. "Chris would be the focus (today) and rightfully so."

Still, the Orioles continued to hit the ball hard against Hendriks and tied the game on a Jones double and sacrifice fly by Davis in the fifth. A single by Wieters ended Hendricks' day.

NOTES: The Orioles did not have a ceremonial first pitch, honoring their former manager Earl Weaver, who died Jan. 19. The team is also wearing his No. 4 on their jerseys this season. Weaver managed the Orioles from 1968 to 1982 and again in 1985 and 1986, winning four pennants and one World Series (1970). ... Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, catcher Matt Wieters and Jones were each presented with their 2012 Gold Gloves before the game. ... The Twins are also the Opening Day opponent for the Royals on Monday, prompting manager Gardenhire to joke, "That's what happens when you lose. Hey, let's get the Twins for Opening Day." ... Ryan Flaherty made his first start at second base for the Orioles, replacing Brian Roberts, who is out two-to-four weeks with a ruptured tendon.