Reynolds gives Orioles lead (updated)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 03, 2011, 11:58am

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Say this about Mark Reynolds: None of his home runs are cheap ones. Nick Markakis collected his fourth hit of the day, and Reynolds collected his 18th home run of the season. It was an absolute bomb, which is typical of Reynolds. He doesn't need a gust of wind - except for the one that his swing creates. Reynolds gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. Now it's up to the Orioles' bullpen, which has been so good, to make it hold up. Reynolds is only the second player to homer off Braves reliever Scott Proctor this season. Scott Hairston has the other one. One more home run and Reynolds will match his error total for the season. He's hitting .229 with 46 RBIs. Reynolds has nine homers and 17 RBIs in his last 23 games. Would you leave him in the cleanup spot after this series? Instant update: Markakis threw out Brian McCann trying to stretch a single into a double to end the bottom of the seventh. McCann came within inches of a game-tying home run off Jim Johnson.