Arrieta was grand until grand slam (deficit grows)

Jake Arrieta had allowed one run in his last 12 2/3 innings when the Mets' Ike Davis stepped to the plate tonight with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. With one swing, a scoreless tie was shattered and Arrieta's run of success had been destroyed. Davis' first career grand slam gave New York a 4-0 lead against the Orioles, who have managed only one hit off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. The Orioles hadn't allowed a run in 25 consecutive innings before the Mets batted in the sixth. Making the Mets' rally more disturbing was how Dickey ignited it with a leadoff single. Davis homered to center field on a 92-mph sinker that didn't sink enough to elude his bat. Wilson Betemit has the only hit off Dickey, who's been one of the more amazing stories of the 2012 season. Manager Buck Showalter had nothing but good things to say about Dickey during the last homestand, having developed a fondness for the right-hander in Texas, but Dickey's got a lot of Orioles muttering to themselves tonight. And I doubt that it's flattering. Update: Kevin Gregg gave up a run in the eighth to increase New York's lead to 5-0. Gregg had been scored upon in only one of 12 appearances, but he's allowed runs in his last two outings. They've been spread out, of course. The Pirates scored twice against him on June 12.