Orioles hold Reds to two hits again

CINCINNATI — Shutdown pitching and just enough hitting. The Baltimore Orioles found a way to squeeze out the close ones during an uplifting trip.

J. J. Hardy singled home the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning on Thursday night, and the Baltimore Orioles held on for a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The victory ended a 6- 3 trip for the Orioles. They took two of three in Cincinnati, leaving them 8- 4 in interleague play against the Reds.

"That's kind of the way we expect to play," Hardy said. "I don't think we're too surprised at how things are turning out."

Hardy fouled off a pair of two-strike pitches before driving in Mark Trumbo from second base with his single off Blake Wood (0-2) that cleared the infield.

Three Orioles pitchers limited the Reds to two hits for the second night in a row. Cincinnati managed only two singles during a 2-0 loss on Wednesday night and was held to one run in the last 23 innings of the series.

Darren O'Day (1-1) fanned two of the three batters he faced in the ninth. Brad Brach retired the side in the 10th for his second straight save filling in while closer Zach Britton recovers from a sore forearm.

Left-hander Wade Miley allowed two hits in eight innings, including Joey Votto's homer in the fourth. Miley matched his career high by fanning 11 for the third time, taking advantage of the Reds' aggressive swings.

Jonathan Schoop extended his hitting streak to eight games with a solo homer in the second off Scott Feldman, his third homer during the streak.

"I had in my notes that he's an aggressive hitter and not to throw him any curveballs for strikes," Feldman said. "But that one caught a little too much of the plate."