BALTIMORE, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Russell Martin's tie-breaking, eighth-inning homer Sunday triggered a five-run outburst that carried the New York Yankees to a 7-2 playoff win over Baltimore.
With the opener of the American League Division Series tied 1-1 in the eighth, Martin clubbed a 2-0 fastball from Orioles closer Jim Johnson (0-1) into the left-field stands.
That opened the floodgates as the Yankees added a two-run double from Robinson Cano and run-scoring hits from Ichiro Suzuki and Nick Swisher.
CC Sabathia (1-0) earned the victory, meting out two runs on eight hits through 8 2/3 innings as AL East champion New York grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five ALDS.
Nate McLouth drove in both runs for AL wild card-winner Baltimore.
The start of the game was delayed 2 1/2 hours by rain.
