21 Nick Markakis, RF

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis hit his fifth home run Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Markakis' solo homer came in the eighth off Brandon Morrow. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in a 12-6 loss.

Markakis has an eight-game hitting streak. He is hitting .343 (12 for 35) with two homers and six RBI over that span.

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis homered in the first inning off Hiroki Kuroda Wednesday versus the Yankees. It was Markakis' fourth HR of the season. 

The No. 3 hitter, who sometimes leads off, went 1 for 4 and is batting .292. Markakis has hit in nine of his last 10 games and has five multiple-hit games over that span with six RBI. He has 23 RBI and 26 runs scored on the season. 

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis doubled among two hits as the designated hitter Friday in Minnesota. Markakis' single to left-center field in the seventh inning helped trim a six-run deficit to 6-5. Baltimore won 9-6 in extra innings. 

Markakis, who added a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 8-6 in the 10th, went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs to go with two RBI. He's batting .279. 

After a slow April, Markakis' bat is warming in May. He's gone 10 for 35 (.286) to this point with four doubles and four RBI over nine games. 

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis will not be allowed to use a special bat to honor his mother -- a breast cancer survivor -- on Mother's Day, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Markakis had a black bat with a pink “label” circle made by MaxBat Inc. from Minnesota. Instead, MLB players will be allowed to use pink bats from Louisville Slugger, which holds the exclusive rights to pink bats for Major League Baseball.

"If I said something (to MLB) would it really make a difference? No, I doubt it," Markakis said. "It is what it is. You've got to abide by the rules."