O's game blog: O's hold their biggest AL East lead since 1997

The Orioles last had a lead of at least 10 games atop the American League East on Sept. 22, 1979. With a win and a New York Yankees loss last night, their current lead grew to 9 1/2 games, the largest since Sept. 6, 1997. Since June 30, the Orioles own the best record in the majors at 38-18 (.679). Their magic number to clinch the AL East is 17. So, yeah, it's getting close to celebration time now, but no one with the Orioles - from the clubhouse to the manager's office - is getting too far ahead of themselves right now. They just keep playing well and winning. They are 7-2 on this homestand, including 3-0 in one-run games. The Orioles have scored 5.8 runs per game on the homestand with a team ERA of 3.00. They have outscored the opposition 52-31 the last nine games at Camden Yards. With two more wins, the Orioles (80-57) will clinch their third consecutive winning season, their first such string of winning records since 1992-94. The O's take a 10-8 interleague record into the second game of their series against the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati is 6-12 against the AL this year, including a 1-7 road record. Over his last three games, Chris Davis is 4-for-9 with a double and an RBI. Nelson Cruz is 5-for-16 during a four-game hitting streak with two homers. He has hit five homers his last 15 games. The Orioles lead the majors with 179 home runs and are on a pace to hit 212. They are 41-11 when they hit two or more. Miguel Gonzalez (7-7, 3.61 ERA) makes his 22nd start of the season tonight and will pitch against right-hander Dylan Axelrod (1-0, 1.64 ERA). Gonzalez has an ERA of 1.86 over his past three starts and has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his last eight outings, going 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA. He has never faced the Reds. According to STATS, the Orioles are trying to win their eighth straight home series for the first time since April 20 to June 6, 1984. O's prospect Christian Walker was named to Baseball America's minor league All-Star second team. Walker played for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, batting .288 with 26 homers, 96 RBIs and an OPS of .846. He led all O's farmhands in homers and RBIs. Walker is considered the favorite to be named the O's minor league Player of the Year, which will be announced tomorrow.