Davis and Alomar Power Baltimore

MILWAUKEE — Heading into the playoffs, Eric Davis looks like he’s ready to help the Baltimore Orioles.

Davis homered for the first time since colon cancer surgery and had three singles before Baltimore came from behind on Roberto Alomar’s three-run homer in the ninth to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, Saturday night.

“He just solidified his postseason role,” Oriole Manager Davey Johnson said after Davis rebounded from a zero-for-five performance against Toronto on Wednesday by going four for five against the Brewers.

Davis had a chemotherapy treatment Friday and did not play in the Oriole loss. He received the ninth of an 18-treatment program that followed his surgery.

“I was a little tired today, but it actually relaxed me,” Davis said. “I got some good pitches to hit and didn’t miss them today.”

Davis, who got his eighth homer, underwent surgery June 13 and returned Sept. 15.

“I felt good since I came back, “ said Davis who connected on the first pitch from Jeff D’Amico in the third. “Some days you don’t see the ball well and some days you do.”

Going into the game, Davis had struck out six times in his previous eight at-bats. But his solo shot was a 380-foot drive into the left-field seats in the third. It was his first since May 6, when he homered off Chuck Finley of the Angels at Camden Yards.

The Orioles’ chances looked dim in the ninth against Doug Jones, who hadn’t blown a save since May 26 at Boston. He was going for his 37th save overall and 26th in a row.

Mike Bordick singled leading off, Brady Anderson hit the next pitch for a double and Alomar followed with his 14th homer.

“We were just trying to be aggressive,” Alomar said. “Sometimes he’ll throw three pitches and three outs. Sometimes you get three pitches and get three hits.”

Said Brewer Manager Phil Garner of Jones: “We’re all shocked he didn’t close it out.”

Terry Mathews pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, and Randy Myers finished for his 45th save in 46 chances, his 34th in a row.

Scott Erickson, scheduled to start Game 2 of the playoffs against the Seattle Mariners, failed in his fourth attempt at his 100th career victory. Erickson gave up three runs--two earned--and six hits in six innings, and is 0-2 in four starts with a 5.65 ERA since beating the Yankees on Sept. 6.