Bombers’ pen saves day ... and then spoils it

The bullpen saved the game — and then blew another one. After CC Sabathia exited Friday night’s start following just four innings, the Yankees bullpen pieced together a brilliant performance of nine shutout innings, before Jonathan Holder imploded, and gave up a grand slam to Pedro Alvarez in the 14th inning of a 7-3 loss to the Orioles in The Bronx. Because of Sabathia’s injury, manager Aaron Boone ended up using seven of his eight relievers. Holder (0-1) was bailed out in the 13th inning, when Aaron Judge made his latest leaping grab over the right-field wall, and took a home run away from Caleb Joseph. But Holder loaded the bases to start the 14th, and watched his ERA balloon to 20.25.

Entering Friday, the Yankees’ hyped bullpen held the third-worst ERA in the American League (6.65). The same arms combined to post a 3.34 ERA last season, ranking third in the AL.

The bullpen didn’t allow a hit until the 10th inning, and kept the Yankees trailing 3-2 until Didi Gregorius’ game-tying homer in the eighth.

Tommy Kahnle pitched two innings, escaping unscathed despite allowing a runner to reach third in each frame. Kahnle threw 48 pitches, the second-most he has thrown in a game in his career.

Dellin Betances issued a one-out walk in the seventh, but immediately got an inning-ending double play against Manny Machado, who earlier hit two home runs off Sabathia.

In the eighth, David Robertson took the baton, and set down the three batters he faced. Aside from his four-run implosion against the Blue Jays on April 1, Robertson hasn’t allowed a run in his other three appearances this season.

Closer Aroldis Chapman entered a tie game in the ninth inning, and his worrisome control issues came back. Though the southpaw hadn’t issued a walk in his first three appearances this season, Chapman briefly gave momentum back to Baltimore, by walking two of the first three hitters he faced.

Chapman opened the next at-bat with three straight balls, and received sarcastic cheers on his next thrown strike, but soon received legitimate praise after forcing a groundout, and striking out Mancini to end the inning.

Chad Green, who allowed two runs and three hits Thursday night, opened the 10th with a walk, and gave up a two-out single to Pedro Alvarez, but he struck out pinch-hitter Colby Rasmus to end the inning.

Chasen Shreve pitched a perfect 11th, then loaded the bases in the 12th, with two outs, before striking out Rasmus.