New York Yankees Could Not Get Past Buck, Orioles

With the Toronto Blue Jays still blazing hot, the New York Yankees missed an opportunity by losing two of three against the Orioles.

American League
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

• Game 1: Yankees 8 – Orioles 6
• Game 2: Yankees 1 – Orioles 2
• Game 3: Yankees 3 – Orioles 5

By Robby Sabo

As it stands right now, with just an hour and a half until midnight on the East Coast, the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays are in line to lose to the Boston Red Sox (unless they erase a 10-1 deficit in the ninth-inning.

This means a win by the New York Yankees on Wednesday night would’ve cut the AL East back to just .5 game – tied in the loss column.

Instead of that mini triumph, Joe Girardi’s club lost their second straight to the Baltimore Orioles, 5-3.

Steven Pearce's solo HR in the 8th helps lift @Orioles past Yankees, 5-3. Yankees are 8-4 in last 12. pic.twitter.com/jSZuBx7Llr

— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) September 10, 2015

The #Orioles get 1 in the 8th, 1 in the 9th to defeat the #Yankees http://t.co/ifPwDsyYOM pic.twitter.com/4CE5jdYEF7

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 10, 2015

Heading into the eighth inning with the score tied knotted up at three, Orioles slugger Steve Pearce hit a game-winning solo shot off Adam Warren.

Unlike his counterpart C.C. Sabathia – who could only muster 4.2 innings – Baltimore starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiminez turned in a solid outing by only allowing four hits and three runs in seven strong.

Ubaldo Jimenez took the spotlight tonight. #Birdland pic.twitter.com/Sj5hJ8rEIn

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 10, 2015

Aside from Monday night’s victory which saw the Bombers put up eight runs, Tuesday night and Wednesday night showcased virtually no offense. As a matter of fact, they only combined for 10 hits in the two losses.

The two major positives in the series came from Masahiro Tanaka, who pitched eight flawless innings in Game 2, and Alex Rodriguez who homered twice. They’ll need A-Rod to continue this mini resurgence if they want to keep pace with the Jays.

Speaking of the Jays, Thursday night in the Bronx will begin a four-game set between the top two teams from the AL East. This weekend could prove to be a major factor in the race for the division.