Markakis ends extra-base hit drought (Feldman done after fifth)

Though Nick Markakis continues to wait for his next home run, he's no longer thirsting for an extra-base hit. The drought is over. Markakis lined a double into right-center field off Oakland rookie Sonny Gray with one out in the bottom of the third inning. He hadn't collected an extra-base hit since July 19 in Texas, a span of 31 games. Seattle shortstop Brendan Ryan still has the longest streak this season, going the first 32 games without an extra-base hit. Markakis advanced to third base on catcher Kurt Suzuki's passed ball, but Ryan Flaherty struck out to end the inning. Markakis, who began the day batting .275 with eight homers and 51 RBIs in 126 games, hasn't homered since June 24 against the Indians. Scott Feldman struck out the first two batters in the top of the third, then walked the next two and hit Alberto Callaspo to receive another mound visit from pitching coach Bill Castro. Seth Smith flied out on Feldman's 74th pitch. Feldman retired the A's in order in the fourth, collecting his fifth strikeout along the way. He's been good in the even-numbered innings, not so much in the odd innings. Quite odd. To answer my own question from the previous entry, the Orioles haven't had two sacrifice flies in the same game since July 22 against Kansas City. They've done it four times this season. Update: Gray was not a Sonny delight for the A's today. Gray is charged with six runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He was lifted after Manny Machado's second sacrifice fly of the day, and the third by the Orioles. Brian Roberts led off with a walk and took third on Nate McLouth's double. It's only the third time since 2000 that the Orioles have produced three sacrifice flies in the same game. The last time it happened was April 26, 2011 against the Red Sox. It's what you know... Update II: The Orioles have never hit four sacrifice flies in the same game. Stay tuned. As for Feldman, he's done after the fifth, having allowed one run and three hits, with four walks, six strikeouts, a hit batter and a balk. He threw 102 pitches, only 59 for strikes. T.J. McFarland is working the sixth with the Orioles leading 6-1.