Orioles hit three home runs in four innings (O's down 7-6)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles rotation didn't surrender a home run in the first inning today, the streak ending at three games.

The damage came later.

Chris Denorfia hit a three-run homer off Chris Tillman in the second after a pair of walks, and the Yankees tacked on two more runs in the third to build a 5-1 lead.

Mark Trumbo, Caleb Joseph and J.J. Hardy have homered for the Orioles, who will try to pound the Yankees into submission. It may be the favored plan of attack this season.

Hardy's two-run shot off Ivan Nova in the fourth inning, his second in two days, tied the score 5-5 as dark clouds pass over Ed Smith Stadium. He's batting .343 this spring.

Through four innings, I've got Tillman at 75 pitches and 47 strikes. Left-hander Zach Phillips was warming in the fourth after a leadoff walk and single, but Tillman got a double play and strikeout to end the threat.

Phillips is still warming as Tillman returns for the fifth.

Tillman retired the side in order in the first inning, throwing nine of his 12 pitches for strikes and fanning Didi Gregorius. His fastball topped out at 94 mph.

Tillman hit 95 mph in the second, but the walks to Dustin Ackley and Chris Parmelee came back to haunt him. Plate umpire Clint Fagan was squeezing him tight enough to leave finger prints. Manager Buck Showalter most likely will reference it after the game, choosing his words carefully.

Trumbo homered to right-center field with one out in the second to cut the Yankees' lead to 3-1. He's hit five homers and driven in 13 runs this spring.

Brett Gardner reached on a bunt single to open the third, Gregorius doubled to right-center field and Starlin Castro flied to left field to push across another run. Chase Headley grounded an RBI single into right field for a 5-1 lead.

Dustin Ackley looped a single into right, but Trumbo threw out Headley at third base. Trumbo also made a strong throw after gathering Gregorius' double to hold Gardner at third.

Chris Corporan was hit by a pitch before former Oriole Chris Parmelee lined softly to short. Tillman was up to 60 pitches, 36 for strikes.

Joseph, his average up to .325, hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third after Jonathan Schoop lined a single into right field. Joseph doubled his RBI total while collecting his first home run of the spring.

Instant update: Tillman came out at 78 pitches, 50 strikes, after Castro reached on a Hardy error leading off the fifth. His current lines reads five runs and six hits, with three walks, four strikeouts, a home run and a hit batter.

Update II: Phillips got a double play and fly ball after replacing Tillman. Dylan Bundy retired the side in order in the sixth, but he's given up two runs and four hits in the seventh.

The Yankees are still batting with one out after taking a 7-6 lead.