Paredes’ homer powers Orioles past Mariners

BALTIMORE — Jimmy Paredes stole the spotlight from Nelson Cruz with a performance more befitting a veteran slugger than a long-time utility player.

Paredes homered and had a career-high four RBIs, and the Baltimore Orioles shook off a home run by Cruz in a 9-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

Paredes singled in two runs in the fourth inning and added a two-run drive off Danny Farquhar (0-2) in the sixth. Starting on a regular basis for the first time in his career, Paredes has reached base in 20 straight games and ranks second on the team with 22 RBIs.

Returning to Camden Yards for the first time since signing as a free agent with Seattle in December, Cruz hit his major-league leading 16th homer with two on in the third to give the Mariners a 4-1 lead. Paredes matched that home run and did Cruz one better in the RBI department.

“That feels great because he’s a big man right there,” Paredes said of Cruz. “A lot of fans root for something big from him, and we changed the game.”

Cruz led the majors with 40 home runs in 2014, his only season with the Orioles. He received a warm reception and chants of “Cruuuze!” from the crowd.

After his homer, he again heard cheers.

“That was nice,” Cruz said. “The whole game in right field I heard good things. It makes you feel good.”