Orioles 9, Reds 7: J.J. Hardy ripped a two-run single to snap a tie in the seventh inning as Baltimore rebounded after squandering an early six-run lead to complete a three-game sweep of visiting Cincinnati.

Nick Hundley belted a three-run homer and Nelson Cruz added his major league-best 37th to highlight a six-run first inning for the American League East-leading Orioles, who finished 9-2 on their 11-game homestand. Jonathan Schoop also went deep for the third straight contest and Kelly Johnson added an RBI double in the victory as Baltimore maintained its 9 1/2-game division lead over the New York Yankees.

Devin Mesoraco homered among his four hits and added a two-run double in the seventh for the reeling Reds, who have dropped 16 of their last 22 and trail both Milwaukee and Atlanta by seven games in the race for the second wild card in the National League. Mesoraco, who also lifted a sacrifice fly, scored on Donald Lutz's single in the seventh to forge a 7-7 tie.

Baltimore answered as Nick Markakis singled to lead off the bottom of the frame against Manny Parra (0-2) and advanced to third on Alejandro De Aza's sacrifice and Adam Jones' single. Sam LeCure walked Cruz to load the bases and Hardy lined a 3-1 fastball into left field two batters later to plate Markakis and Jones.

After Brad Brach surrendered four runs in relief of starter Chris Tillman, Tommy Hunter (3-2) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Zach Britton retired the side in the ninth to secure his 33rd save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati RHP Homer Bailey is expected to have surgery to repair a tear in the flexor mass tendon near his right forearm on Friday. ... Cruz's 37 homers are tied with Albert Belle (1999) and Mark Reynolds (2011) for the second-most in a player's first season in Baltimore. ... Tillman was poised to improve to 5-0 in his last 10 starts after allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six before the Reds' uprising. The four-run seventh also got Cincinnati RHP Mike Leake off the hook after he was blitzed for seven runs on as many hits in four innings.