BALTIMORE — The Yankees and Orioles were as evenly matched as two clubs can be in the regular season, so it was entirely predictable that they would be tied entering the ninth inning of Game 1 of their AL division series Sunday night.

Somewhat less predictable was that the Yankees suddenly would blow the game open – against one of the premier relievers in the league.

Russell Martin led off the ninth with a tiebreaking home run off closer Jim Johnson to begin a five-run inning as the Yankees earned a 7-2 victory in front of 47,841 at Camden Yards.