BALTIMORE _ As the losses piled up for the Orioles, Manny Machado was still one of the top offensive players in the game. And now that the club has finally started picking up some momentum, Machado is in the middle of it.
Machado recorded a two-homer, six-RBI game in the Orioles' 9-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night that included his first grand slam of the season in the seventh inning.
The Orioles (11-27) have won three straight games for the first time this season. And Machado's 12 homers are now tied for second-most in the American League. He has homered in consecutive games for the second time this season.
Machado's grand slam was the eighth of his career, making him one of three players in major league history to record that many before their 26th birthday. The two others: Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez.
Machado gave the Orioles an early lead with a two-run blast three batters into the bottom of the first inning, taking a first-pitch slider from Rays right-hander Jake Faria over the left-center field fence.
In the seventh inning _ after Faria was chased from the game after a single, hit batter and walk _ Machado cleared the bases by hitting a 1-0 slider from reliever Ryne Stanek over the left-center field wall.
Machado's grand slam was the Orioles' second of the season _ Pedro Alvarez's slam on April 6 gave the O's a 14-inning win at Yankee Stadium.
Machado's slam also gave him his 150th career homer, making him the youngest Orioles player (25 years, 309 days) to reach that milestone. He is also the fourth fastest in team history to reach 150 homers with the Orioles (802 games), trailing only Chris Davis (587), Rafael Palmeiro (623) and Frank Robinson (689).
