Yankees Put Orioles Away Early

The Yankees got four runs in the first inning and that helped them dispose of the Orioles early on Thursday, winning 9-3.

Chase Headley hit a bases loaded double in the first to make it 3-0 and then Didi Gregorius brought him in with a single to make it 4-0.

Chris Davis made it 4-1 with a homer in the second but Jacoby Ellsbury answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom half.

The Yanks got two more in the third to make it 7-1 and then made it 9-1 in the fifth on a two-run double by Ellsbury.

Masahiro Tanaka earned the win, bringing his record on the year to 7-3. He went 7.2 innings, allowing three earned runs. He walked nobody and struck out seven.

The Yanks are now 53-41 and sit in first place in the AL East with a comfortable 5.5 game lead over the second-place Blue Jays.

The Yanks open up a series tonight at the Twins, who hold the second wild card spot in the American League.