Ryan Sweeney went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs as the Oakland Athletics battered the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 Thursday night.

Sweeney's four-hit night halted a 1-for-9 slump, bumping his average back up to .303. His run-scoring single in the fourth inning increased the Oakland lead to 4-1, and he added an RBI single in a four-run seventh as the Athletics won for the fifth time in the last six games.

Cliff Pennington also had four hits to go along with two RBIs and a stolen base for Oakland, which pounded out 15 hits against four Baltimore hurlers. Jack Cust knocked in a pair of runs, while Gabe Gross chipped in with two hits and an RBI.

Trevor Cahill (8-2) continued his recent mastery, allowing a lone run on four hits over seven sensational innings. He walked one and struck out four to earn his eighth straight victory while lowering his ERA to 2.74.

Nick Markakis hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning to open the scoring, but that was all the Orioles could muster against Cahill and two relievers.

Jake Arrieta (2-2) surrendered four runs and seven hits over six innings as he took his second loss in a row. He walked four and struck out just two.