BALTIMORE — Nick Pivetta overpowered the Baltimore Orioles with his fastball and curve, showing potential as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Pivetta tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts, Cesar Hernandez homered and Philadelphia beat the Orioles 4-1 Wednesday in a wet interleague matchup.
Philadelphia (24-16) climbed eight games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season. The Orioles (13-29) have dropped two of three and have the second-worst record in the American League, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox (10-29).
Pivetta (3-2) won his second straight start, allowing one run, two hits and one walk in seven innings.
“He has dominant stuff. The kind of stuff that can wipe out the opposition,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “Today was sort of one of those days that you can dream on, and like (think) what if he really puts it all together and is able to do this, start in and start out? And we’re starting to see that consistency.”
Odubel Herrera singled in the first and extended his on-base streak to 42 games for the Phillies, who have won six of seven.
Tommy Hunter allowed runners to reach second and third with one out in the eighth. Luis Garcia loaded the bases with a walk to Trey Mancini, then retired Adam Jones on a flyout and got Manny Machado to hit into a forceout.
Edubray Ramos struck out both batters he faced in the ninth, and Hector Neris retired Chris Davis on a game-ending groundout. Neris started the season as the closer, but Kapler said he plans to keep his options open.
“We know that Ramos’ slider is very effective against right-handed hitters, it’s been true for over a year. So we give him that opportunity. That creates that confidence,” Kapler said. “Guess who else is going to feel like a million bucks? Hector Neris. He just got a huge out for us.”
The opener of a series between teams that met for the 1983 title was rained out Tuesday and was rescheduled for July 12
Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning homer. Pivetta then retired 12 straight batters before Davis hit a double in the fifth.
“That was impressive,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “What did we hit, five balls hard that they caught, too? That didn’t help matters.”
Hernandez homered on Andrew Cashner’s first pitch of the sixth inning, and Maikel Franco chased Cashner with a run-scoring single.
Richard Bleier gave up Pedro Florimon’s RBI single.
Cashner (1-5) allowed three runs, five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. He has not won since April 5.
“I thought I threw the ball well,” Cashner said. “In that sixth inning, the ball kept slipping out of my hand. It got pretty wet there and I just have to execute better.”
Hernandez tripled in the seventh and scored on Rhys Hoskins’ double off Mychal Givens. Those were all the runs the Phillies would need thanks to Pivetta.
“We’re really, really positive in here right now,” Pivetta said. “Having the guys get some runs for me late in the game is tremendous. Everybody is gelling together, you guys can see it. It’s really fun in here right now. And I think it really has to do with how good our team is gelling together.”
Philadelphia is 4-0 against the American League this season, its longest interleague winning streak since 2010.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Darren O’Day (hyperextended right elbow) threw a bullpen session without any setbacks. He could be activated Friday, according to manager Buck Showalter.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Vince Velasquez (3-4, 5.05 ERA) is looking to earn a third straight win Thursday against the Cardinals and Luke Weaver (3-2, 4.91 ERA).
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (3-2, 3.18 ERA) starts the opener Thursday in Boston opposite David Price (3-4, 4.89 ERA).
Please read our comment policy before commenting.