Orioles 7, Yankees 3
NEW YORK -- J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones each hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning and the Baltimore Orioles rallied for a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles had been blanked for 18 straight innings, going 9-for-62 since Nick Markakis had a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning Friday. They had five hits in the first six innings against New York starter Andy Pettitte before getting six in the seventh against four pitchers.
Pettitte was knocked out after Mike Morse and Danny Valencia started the seventh with base hits. Shawn Kelley (4-2), who had allowed just two inherited runners to score before Sunday, gave up an RBI single to Matt Wieters.
On the next pitch, Hardy hit a fly ball that Curtis Granderson appeared to have a good read on at the right-field warning track. Instead, he could not get his glove on it and the ball scraped over the wall for Hardy's 24th home run.
After Boone Logan put two on, Manny Machado fouled out to Chris Stewart on a bunt attempt against Joba Chamberlain. Three pitches later, Jones crushed Chamberlain's 1-1 slider over the center-field fence for his 28th home run.
The Orioles won for the seventh time in their last 18 games and moved ahead of the Yankees by a half-game in the AL wild card race.
Kevin Gausmman (2-3) struck out three in two scoreless innings for the win after starter Wei-Yin Chen labored through four innings. Chen allowed three runs and four hits along with a career-high five walks while throwing 82 pitches.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a hitless seventh, Tommy Hunter stranded two in the eighth and Darren O'Day pitched a hitless ninth.
The Yankees lost for the seventh time in their last 21 games and also had a season-high seven-game home winning streak snapped. They scored their runs without home runs as Alfonso Soriano had an RBI single in the third, Brett Gardner drew a bases-loaded walk and Derek Jeter lifted a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Alex Rodriguez returned from missing Saturday's game with flulike symptoms and went 0-for-3.
Pettitte was in line for his ninth straight victory over the Orioles as he allowed one run and seven singles in six-plus innings. He exited to a standing ovation before the Orioles erupted.
NOTES: Both teams announced their first round of September call-ups. For the Yankees, IF David Adams and RHPs Brett Marshall and Dellin Betances were recalled from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees also purchased the contract of C J.R. Murphy and LHP Cesar Cabral from Scranton Wilkes-Barre. IF Jayson Nix (fractured left hand) was moved to the 60-day disabled list while OF Melky Mesa was unconditionally released. ... Baltimore made a trio of moves involving catchers by adding Steve Clevenger and Chris Snyder from Triple-A Norfolk. Since Snyder was not on Baltimore's 40-man roster, Taylor Teagarden was designated for assignment. ... Former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summit took part in a pregame ceremony as a part of "Worldwide Alzheimer's Awareness Month."
