Rain doesn't wash away Norris' quality start (O's win 5-4)

Bud Norris waited through a 1 hour, 46 minute rain delay tonight and went about his business. No excuses. Take the ball and get outs. Reds starter Matt Latos is out of the game after five innings and 79 pitches. The five runs allowed ties his season high. The 10 hits ties his career high. Norris shut out the Reds on four hits over six innings, with one walk, seven strikeouts and a wild pitch. His 93rd pitch resulted in a strikeout of Chris Heisey that stranded a runner. Norris has his first quality start at home since July 31 vs. the Angels. You've got to respect this guy. He's a fighter, and that's exactly the attitude that the Orioles were seeking when they traded for him. He's the kind of pitcher you should want in your playoff rotation. Manager Buck Showalter will mention how Norris kept loose during the delay by throwing off the indoor mound, something he couldn't do at Wrigley Field back on Aug. 23. The Yankees lost to the Red Sox 9-4. The Orioles can increase their division lead to 9 1/2 games if they stay ahead of the Reds, their largest margin since September 1997. The magic number would be down to 17. Tommy Hunter is pitching the seventh inning. What did I do during the rain delay? Well, there's this: Update: Jay Bruce hit a grand slam off Darren O'Day in the eighth to cut the Orioles' lead to 5-4. One run was unearned following Jimmy Paredes' error at third base. O'Day's ERA jumps to 1.34. The four runs ties his career high. He hadn't allowed more than one in any game this season. He didn't permit more than two earned runs in any game in 2013. O'Day issued a walk and hit a batter in the inning. He's allowed four homers this season, the last coming on July 27. Update II: Game over. Zach Britton records his 32nd save and the Orioles move 23 games above .500 with a 5-4 win over the Reds. The Orioles lead the Yankees by 9 1/2 games in the AL East. They're 38-18 since June 30. The Orioles are 41-28 at home and 28-19 in one-run games. They've won 12 of their last 14 series openers.