Cashner was solid and Davis hits go-ahead homer (with quotes)

Getting a solid starting pitching effort and a key late-game homer led the Orioles to a win tonight over the New York Mets. When the 2018 season began, they probably envisioned more than a few games going this way, but at least it did tonight to keep the Orioles from falling 50 games under the .500 mark.

Chris Davis homered in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and Andrew Cashner pitched a strong seven innings in a 6-3 win over the Mets. The Orioles are 36-84 for the season and 3-0 versus the Mets. They improved to 21-39 at home and ended a five-game losing streak.

Tied 2-2 in the last of the seventh, Davis homered to right-center for a 3-2 lead off reliever Bobby Wahl. He hit No. 15 on a 1-0 changeup. If left the bat at 106.6 mph and traveled 424 feet. Over the weekend versus Boston, Davis had gone 2-for-14 with 10 strikeouts. The O's added another run in that inning. Caleb Joseph drew a walk and later scored on a Renato Núñez single for the 4-2 edge. Tim Beckham's two-run homer in the eighth was his eighth and provided two more insurance runs.

Cashner went seven allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and strikeouts. He improved to 4-10 with an ERA of 4.71 after a 105-pitch outing. He got his second home win in his 12th start this year at Oriole Park. Cashner recorded his 8th quality start over his past 12 games. He's allowed three earned runs in 14 innings his past two starts since he gave up 10 runs at Texas on Aug. 2.

The Orioles went scoreless over the first three innings, but then took a 1-0 lead in the last of the fourth off Mets lefty Jason Vargas. Núñez walked with one out, his sixth walk in the last five games. He went to third on Adam Jones' double to left and then scored on Mark Trumbo's sac fly. Trumbo has 13 RBIs over his past 12 games.

Cashner retired the first nine batters on 38 pitches and had a one-hitter on 48 pitches through four innings. But the Mets scored twice in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead and he needed 32 pitches to navigate that inning.

It started with a walk, single and double play grounder, and Cashner was an out away from putting up another zero. But another walk was followed by an RBI single from No. 9 hitter Kevin Plawecki and that tied it at 1-1. Leadoff batter Amed Rosario followed with a single to center for a 2-1 lead. Up to that inning, the Mets had scored one run in 22 innings this season versus Orioles pitching.

The O's tied it 2-2 in the sixth on Adam Jones' solo homer to left center off Vargas. Jones hit a 2-0 changeup 386 feet for his 13th of the year and the game was tied after six. Tonight was the 43rd time that Jones and Davis homered in the same game. That is the most by active teammates. Next with 40 are the Angels' Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.

The Orioles host the Mets on Wednesday night, looking for their second two-game sweep of New York this season.

Postgame quotes:

Jones on the good all-around play tonight: "We played a good game of baseball. Caught the ball, threw the ball, didn't make too many mistakes. You have to play 27 outs in the major leagues. If you don't, you lose. Tonight we did, so we were able to get a W."

Jones on what has been impressive about Cedric Mullins so far: "Poise. He's got a good group of veterans around him to where we can keep him poised. He's in a good situation here just knowing there is not nearly as many expectations throughout the year except get some at-bats and get some seasoning, get some dirt in your spikes and have some fun. He's just coming in and playing baseball."

Cashner on what made his outing good: "I thought I went more four-seam heavy than I have in the past and thought I had good velo to kind of start the game. I think over the last month, I've really been changing speeds with my sinker and getting into my arm slot, and I think it's had a lot of run. I just continue to keep working on my slider. I think it's just reaction to what the hitters are doing (in going heavy four-seamer). I thought they were taking a lot of pitches early. I still think my best pitch is my sinker, so I was trying to steal a strike with my four-seam."

Davis on hitting a key homer: "It was good. It was nice to see a positive result, not only personally but as a team to get a win. Cash threw the ball outstanding. Had some good defensive plays behind him. Jonesey with a big homer. Beck with a big homer. Cedric still getting hits. It was a total team win and a very satisfying win. Think it is too easy sometimes to get caught up in the negative and sometimes even in the positive. And let your guard down. For me, I want to finish up strong, work on some things and go into the offseason with a head of steam."

Davis wants to stop overanalyzing his swing: "For me, (that means) not getting too technical or too analytical. Just taking the results for what they are. That is kind of where I'm at right now. Just trying to keep my approach simple and keep my work consistent day in and day out. And knowing that the result ultimately has already been determined and I don't have whole lot of control over it. Just trying to get something going and seeing how long I can make it last. I feel like the conversations I've been having lately with Cooley (hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh), with Brady (Anderson), with Trumbo, anyone whose ready to talk hitting. It's just about working and making sure that I'm consistent in my approach every day, consistent in my plan, consistent in my work."