Orioles move into tie with Yanks again

J.J. Hardy homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs, and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 Tuesday. The win pulled the Orioles into a tie atop the American League East with the New York Yankees, a 4-3 loser to the Boston Red Sox.

Chris Davis homered and Matt Wieters had three hits and two RBIs for Baltimore. Orioles’ starter Jason Hammel had to leave the game in the fourth inning with an injury to his surgically-repaired right knee.

In the Boston game, Jacoby Ells- bury singled in the winning run in the ninth with his fourth hit of the game. It was only Boston’s second win in 13 games.

Surging Phillies hit .500 mark

Jimmy Rollins homered and drove in three runs and Roy Halladay won again as the Philadelphia Phillies outslugged the visiting Miami Marlins 9-7 for their sixth straight win. Juan Pierre and Chase Utley both had three hits for Philadelphia, which has won 14 in of its last 18. The five-time defending NL East champions reached

.500 for the first time since June 4.

So do the Brewers

Marco Estrada pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez homered and the host Milwaukee Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0. The Brewers won their eighth in a row at Miller Park and reached the .500 mark for the first time since April 24.

Off the field

Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy was released from a Bay Area hospital less than a week after getting hit in the head by a line drive and undergoing surgery.

The Reds are giving closer Aroldis Chapman a few days off to rest his tired pitching shoulder. The left-hander struggled with his control and only hit 96 mph on the radar gun Monday night during a 14-inning, 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. Normally, his fastball is in the range of 98 mph to 101 mph.

The Orioles designated relief pitcher Kevin Gregg (3-2, 4.74 ERA in 40 games) for assignment.