Orioles Lose to Yankees 5-2 in Finale of 3-game series
DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) — Chase Headley and Austin Romine had two RBIs apiece, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Sunday to prevent a three-game sweep and remain afloat in the AL wild-card race.
After the Yankees were blanked in the first two games of the series, manager Joe Girardi called the finale "probably the most important game of the year."
Although he placed five rookies in the starting lineup, Girardi got the victory he needed to keep his young, retooled team in contention for the postseason. New York began the day 4 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot.
Luis Severino (2-8) pitched two strong innings of relief and Dellin Betances, the fifth New York reliever, got four outs for his eighth save.
The Orioles remain in far better position to secure a wild-card berth than New York, but the loss dropped Baltimore three games out of first place in the AL East.
After falling behind 4-0 in the fourth inning, the Orioles closed to 4-2 before wasting an opportunity to complete the comeback in the fifth.
Adam Jones led off with a single and scored on a double by Pedro Alvarez. Severino replaced starter Michael Pineda and struck out Manny Machado before issuing two straight walks to load the bases. Steve Pearce struck out and Matt Wieters chopped a grounder to second base to end the threat.
Baltimore got only one more hit the rest of the way.
New York had been shut out three consecutive times by the Orioles over a seven-day span. "We've got to find a way to score some runs," Girardi said after Saturday night's 2-0 loss.
The Yankees promptly put an end to the streak with a three-run first inning. Wade Miley (8-12) walked the first two batters and struck out the next two before Headley hit an RBI single. A wild pitch and a two-run single by Romine followed.
Headley singled home a run in the fourth, and Pearce hit a run-scoring grounder in the bottom half.
Brett Gardner made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: SS Didi Gregorius was held out of the starting lineup after absorbing some bumps and bruises during the series. "His arm is sore where he's been hit the past few days," Girardi said. Gregorius was available off the bench. . 1B Mark Teixeira doesn't usually play in day games after playing the previous night, and thus was given Sunday off. Commenting on the ice pack Teixeira had on his neck before the game, Girardi said, "He deals with his neck, he deals with his knee. It's not what you want, but it's the reality."
Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (shoulder) threw off a mound and remains on course to come off the disabled list on Sept. 11.
UP NEXT
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (11-4, 3.12 ERA) opens a three-game series against visiting Toronto on Monday. New York is 3-9 against the Blue Jays this season, losing all four series.
Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11, 6.46) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Tampa Bay. Baltimore is 29-37 on the road, 3-3 at Tampa Bay.
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