Chris Davis hits tiebreaking homer as O's take home finale

As if to remind us that his last start in Detroit was very much the exception and not the rule, lefty John Means threw another strong game today for the Orioles in the 2019 home finale.

Chris Davis also took fans back a bit - to days when he hit important homers. He hit one today in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie as the Orioles beat Seattle 2-1.

The O's are now 51-105 and completed their home schedule with a 25-56 record. They won a series for the first time since taking two of three from Kansas City from Aug. 19-21.

In a 1-1 game with two outs in the seventh and Seattle starter Marco Gonzales rolling, Davis got into one and it just made it out to right-center for a 2-1 lead. He hit No. 11 on a 2-1 sinker at 89 mph. Davis had hit just one homer in his last 21 games but this one was a go-ahead homer.

Means, who gave up five runs in 5 runs over 5 2/3 innings at Detroit. But he had pitched to an ERA of 2.53 in the five starts before that and he was locked in today.

Over seven innings, he allowed seven hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. He improved to 11-11 with an ERA of 3.54. Means threw 104 pitches and got rolling after he gave up three hits and one run in the top of the first.

But he minimized the damage there. Shed Long led off the game with a booming triple and the next batter, J.P. Crawford, singled for the 1-0 lead. But Means would strand runners at second and third with one out when he fanned Tom Murphy and Austin Nola grounded out.

The Orioles tied the game in the home first. Austin Hays singled to left with one out and scored with two outs on a Renato Núñez RBI double to right for his 83rd RBI.

The Orioles had just three hits today and won as their staff held the Mariners to one run.

Richard Bleier got a save, pitching scoreless ball over the final two innings to end the homestand with a bullpen zero after a few bullpen meltdowns preceded this. The O's now head to Toronto and Boston to end the 2019 season.