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| Adam Jones' HR propelled Baltimore to victory. Photo Credit: Getty Images |
The New York Yankees wasted five strong innings by starting pitcher Michael Pineda, who was making his first start since April 23rd, and could not deliver a victory for him in their loss to the first place Orioles.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
The game started off very well for New York. In the third inning, Stephen Drew doubled into the left field corner. After a flyout to right field that allowed Drew to advance to third base, Francisco Cervelli jumped all over a hanging breaking ball from Orioles starter Chris Tillman smacking a shot over the wall in left center field to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead.
Pineda received outstanding defense in the 4th inning when Martin Prado leapt up against the right field wall denying Chris Davis an extra base hit.
Pineda was perfect through four innings before Nelson Cruz leadoff double in the 5th inning. He wound up only yielding one run on two hits while striking out eight batters, a sensational first star back from the DL for him.
The Orioles started their comeback by cutting the lead to 2-1 in the 5th inning on a sac fly to center field by Ryan Flaherty that plated Nelson Cruz.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the 7th inning after arguing a call home plate umpire Gerry Davis who ruled Drew out due to running in the base line on a ground ball up the first base side.
However, New York’s bullpen failed to hold a 2-1 lead heading into the 8th inning. Dellin Betances dominated the first two innings in relief, striking out four of the six batters he faced, but ran into trouble in the 8th inning.
Jonathan Schooper blasted his 11th home run on a hanging breaking ball into the first row of seats in left field tying the game up at 2-2. Schooper has had the Yankees number this season with four home runs, while 11 out of his 32 runs batted in have come against New York.
Shawn Kelley replaced Betances. After getting the second out of the inning, Kelley gave up a single to Nick Markakis, then issued a walk to Chris Davis. Next stepped up Adam Jones who crushed his 23rd home run of the season into the Orioles bullpen for the 5-2 lead.
The Yankees made things interesting in the 9th inning putting runners on second and third after Mark Teixeira walked followed by a double down the left field line by Carlos Beltran. Chase Headley grounded out to second bringing Teixeira in from third base cutting Baltimore’s lead to 5-3. The rally ended as Stephen Drew grounded out to first to end the game.
Tillman went seven innings while surrendering two runs on five hits. At one point he retired ten Yankee batters in a row.
Darren O’Day(4-1), who came into pitch in relief of Tillman, earned the victory while Zach Britton recorded his 25th save of the season.
Kelley(2-4) took the loss for New York.
Baltimore leads the majors with 152 home runs.
The Yankees are now eight games behind the Orioles in the A.L. East.
After an off day on Thursday, New York opens up a 3 game series in Tampa Bay against the Rays. 