O’s fall out of first place for 1st time
Joseph ends RBI drought with homer; Schoop leaves after being hit by pitch
NEW YORK — The Orioles came to Yankee Stadium with a one-game division lead over the resurgent New York Yankees. But after two meetings in the Bronx this weekend, the Orioles have been knocked off their first-place perch in the American League East for the first time this season while being delivered a pair of numbing road losses.
The Orioles (14-8) dropped the second game of their three-game series with the Yankees, 12-4, losing their first series this season after winning six and splitting one before this weekend.
The Orioles allowed their two highest run totals this season on consecutive days, yielding 26 runs combined Friday and Saturday. It marks just the third time since 2012 that the Orioles have allowed at least 12 runs in consecutive games. Both previous occurrences came last season.
The weather in New York is getting warm, so balls are starting to fly out of Yankee Stadium. Over the first two games of the series, the Yankees hit nine homers.
“Pitchers had a rough time, hitters had a rough time,” Orioles catcher said. “But the thing about it is our pitchers have kept us in the game for the most part this entire month. They’ve really been the main reason why we are in the spot we are. So we are not going to hit the panic button or try to reinvent the wheel with these guys. It’s two rough games.” The Yankees (15-7) chased right-hander
from the game in the fourth inning, in part because of two homers by left fielder as the Yankees ran out to a 7-0 lead.
Yankees catcher drove in five runs on the day, including a two-run homer off left-hander in the sixth.
The Orioles scored two runs in the sixth Saturday on a throwing error by Yankees third baseman that scored and a bases-loaded wild
that scored pitch by starter They added two more in the ninth on Joseph’s two-run homer. Long relievers crumble: The Orioles spent the offseason concentrating on building pitching depth to serve as rotation and bullpen relief. But two left-handers who the organization has planned to lean on for those roles were roughed up for a second straight game.
Nuno yielded Romine’s homer in the sixth and allowed a two-run homer to Both pitchers were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.
“Jayson is better than that,” Orioles manager said. “He’s shown us as a starter. Vidal had a good outing the last time out, the time before last. He hasn’t been very good the last couple, so we’ll continue to try and make the proper adjustments and I can after I finish talking to you all.”
The club will likely have to make a roster move to add an additional reliever before Sunday’s series finale. Schoop leaves game: Second baseman
left Saturday’s game before the bottom of the seventh inning after he was hit in the left elbow by a pitch in the sixth.
Showalter said taking Schoop out of the game was precautionary. Schoop was replaced by at second base. Joseph ends RBI drought: Joseph finally ended his RBI drought in the ninth Saturday, hitting a two-run homer off Yankees left-hander
Joseph didn’t have an RBI in 141 plate appearances last season and his previous RBI came on Sept. 11, 2015.
Since he hit his homer with the Orioles down 10 runs in the ninth, Joseph tempered the release of breaking a long streak, making one clap of his hands as he rounded first base.
“I mean, you are in a tough spot because you are getting your you-know-what whipped,” Joseph said. “You want to be excited because there’s a lot of enduring there, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. All of them. But the most important thing is a ‘W.’ We weren’t able to put anything together today.”