Showalter speaks after 7-5 win

The Orioles used a five-run sixth inning tonight to defeat the Yankees 7-5 at Camden Yards and take the series from their division rival.

They're off Thursday before heading to Fenway Park for a four-game series against the Red Sox.

Here's a sampling of the postgame comments from manager Buck Showalter:

On using closer Zach Britton on back-to-back nights after a four-out save: "He's fine. He only threw 12 pitches yesterday. I thought he was pretty sharp again tonight. He was using his breaking ball more, which gives him another weapon.

"I thought one of the key outings was Brad Brach, especially after sitting around for quite a while and going back out and being sharp again. Brad pitched real well for us the last third of the season and we could really use him to be that same contributor."

On the sixth inning: "I think when Bud (Norris) bent but didn't break, it gave us a chance. They had a few pops at him. Of course, he wanted to go back out there, but he had thrown I think 35 pitches that inning, 98-99, whatever it was. You knew you were going to have to make a run at them in the sixth. When you've got someone like (Andrew) Miller and (Dellin) Betances sitting down there, it kind of moves the game up. You pinch-hit where you normally may not.

"John (Russell) and I had grinded that batting order a lot today about trying to make sure we had somebody behind Jonesy (Adam Jones), because we knew they would be careful with him and we could do some things in the batting order, so we were fortunate it worked out. Of course, Delmon (Young) had a big hit. I thought Caleb (Joseph), two-out knocks are huge there."

On Chris Davis, who struck out three times and had three RBIs, going to left-center field for his two-run double: "Yeah, especially off a left-hander, but at this point I think Chris will take anything. He doesn't give in. His contact-to-damage ratio again has always been pretty good, but I know it's frustrating for him to strike out that much. But more times than not, you like the finished product. Whether he's hitting the ball the other way or pulling it firmly, just trying to string together some good at-bats. It's pretty obvious the way they're pitching him, but it's the same way they pitched him last year and the year before. Same way."

On starting Davis instead of Steve Pearce, who's in a 2-for-26 slump: "I thought Stevie needed a day. Chris needed to play after last night. Sometimes it works the other way around. When a guy muffs the ball or something in the outfield, you almost certainly play him the next day."

More on Davis: "He's been OK from what I've seen outwardly. I don't sit there and ask him every five minutes, 'How's your confidence today.' He and Scott (Coolbaugh) talk. I see the hard work they're putting in. It's nice to see him get a little return for it tonight."

On Joseph batting .375: "I said it last year, I thought we had the potential. Caleb's had a pretty good track record of hitting everywhere he's been except here. He's a threat. I don't think hes going to hit .375, but he's a lot more of a threat than people give him credit for."

On Brach, who tossed two scoreless and hitless innings: "Brad's a very versatile pitcher. On a given night, he can do just about anything you want to do with him. Give you multiple innings here and there or pitch a meaningful eighth if somebody needs a day. I like the way he defends himself against left-hand hitters with the changeup."