BALTIMORE -- A day after sitting out with an illness, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado made everyone at Camden Yards feel better on Thursday. Machado snapped Baltimore's 26-inning scoreless stretch with a two-run first-inning homer. The blast, coupled with eight solid frames from righty Gabriel Ynoa, was enough for Baltimore to hang on for a 3-1 series-opening win over Tampa Bay.
The win moves the Orioles five games back of the Twins for the second American League Wild Card spot, pending the outcome of their game against the Tigers on Thursday. The Rays dropped to 4 1/2 games back of Minnesota, for now.