O's tie in seventh, get lead in eighth and beat Angels 3-2

Sometimes the Orioles use home runs to win and sometimes a few singles get the job done.

Today, they strung together three singles off Joe Smith in the last of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 in front of 43,288 at Camden Yards. Now 50-36, the O's lead atop the American League East is back at two games after Detroit beat Toronto 3-2.

Manny Machado led off the eighth with a single to right. One out later, he went to third on a Chris Davis single. When Jonathan Schoop lined a single to center, the O's moved ahead 3-2 on Schoop's 52nd RBI.

Zach Britton closed it out in the ninth for his 26th save in 26 chances as the Orioles improved to 32-14 (.696) at home. The Orioles have won six of seven and 15 of their past 19 home games.

Earlier, the Orioles took a 1-0 lead on Mark Trumbo's 28th home run leading off the second inning. He hit a 3-1 pitch out to center off right-hander Nick Tropeano. It was Trumbo's fourth homer in the last three games and his seventh in the past 12.

The homer was the Orioles' 135th of the year, which set a new record for the most by the All-Star break. The previous mark was 134 in 1996.

O's right-hander Yovani Gallardo kept Los Angeles off the board on three hits through five, but he did not get an out in the sixth inning. He allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases. Then Daniel Nava's single off the right field scoreboard gave the Angels the 2-1 lead.

Mychal Givens came in and walked Ji-Man Choi to load the bases again. Then he got one out on a shallow fly ball and an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Jett Bandy. Quite an escape act to keep the score at 2-1.

The Orioles tied this game 2-2 in strange fashion in the last of the seventh. After Tropeano allowed one run over six innings, J.C. Ramirez came on and gave up back-to-back singles to Schoop and J.J. Hardy. They both advanced on Joey Rickard's sac bunt. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons then made a great over-the-shoulder catch in short center for the second out.

The Angels then brought in right-hander Smith to face Adam Jones. While in the stretch position, Smith dropped the ball, a balk was called and the tying run scored to make it 2-2.

Brad Brach (6-1) got the win with a scoreless eighth inning

In the series finale and final game before the All-Star break on Sunday afternoon, Chris Tillman (11-2, 3.55 ERA) pitches against right-hander Tim Lincecum (1-2, 7.50 ERA).