Can't Afford to Lose

Orioles Top Yanks After a 7-Run 7th Inning

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 2- The six-game home winning streak of the Yankees ended on Sunday afternoon as the Orioles, with a seven-run outburst in the seventh, came from behind to defeat New York, 7-3.

The Yankee loss also ended another streak. In 2013, the Yankees were 32-0 in games in which they led by at least three runs. The Yankees were ahead by a score of 3-0 until Baltimore’s high scoring seventh inning.

Yankee starter Andy Pettitte, who did not figure in the decision, was 16-2 over the Orioles in the last 11 years and did not suffer a loss to them in his last 12 starts.

The left-hander blanked Baltimore during the first six frames, yielding only five hits and not walking a batter. The damage began in the seventh against Pettitte and continued through the following three relief pitchers.

After the game, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones spoke with high praise on behalf of Pettitte, “He [Andy Pettitte] is who he is. He’s still very impressive. He still has plus stuff. He knows what he’s doing. I wish I had seen him from 1996-2005 [Pettitte’s prime]. When we saw him leave the game, nobody was sad. A change of scenery was good.”

The first two Baltimore batters singled in the top of the seventh off Pettitte and the veteran hurler was then removed, after 93 pitches, by manager Joe Girardi for reliever Shawn Kelley.

The new hurler gave no relief to the Yanks as he surrendered a single to catcher Matt Wieters and a home run to J.J. Hardy, his 24th of the season.

Situational lefty Boone Logan then entered the game and gave up a single and a walk to the two Oriole batters he faced.

Both runners scored as did Adam Jones, who blasted his 28th homer of 2013 off the next Yankees pitcher, Joba Chamberlain. The inning mercifully ended for the Yankees after two batters were retired, but not before seven Baltimore runs were scored.

Orioles skipper Buck Showalter was hopeful the big inning will be an impetus to success throughout the month, “Scoring seven runs in one inning, we hope it bodes well for a good September because we’re going to need it. It’s a good way to start the month.”

Girardi, whose bullpen had a 1.05 ERA during the past two weeks, was disappointed by its rare failure on Sunday, “They’re not going to be perfect, but it is surprising. Today, they just didn’t come through.”

Wei-Yin Chen, the Orioles starter, gave up three runs in his four innings on the mound. In contrast to the Yankees relievers in the game, the four Baltimore pen men, Kevin Gausman, Francisco Rodriguez, Tommy Hunter and Darren O’ Day, shut down the Yankees batters for five frames.

The Chicago White Sox return to Yankee Stadium on Monday for a three game series that will begin with a Labor Day matinee. In the opener, Phil Hughes (4-13) will start for the Yanks against Jose Quintana (7-4) for Chicago.