Orioles rally against Chapman, top Yanks
NEW YORK — Aroldis Chapman gave up Pedro Severino’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees lost to Baltimore 4-3 Saturday after the last-place Orioles took a no-hitter into the seventh.
Joey Gallo’s two-run homer in the eighth tied it at 3, and manager Aaron Boone went to his All-Star closer with the save taken out of play.
Ryan Mountcastle struck out against Chapman (5-4) leading off but reached via wild pitch. Austin Hays singled and Trey Mancini walked to load the bases, and Chapman struck out Ramon Urias before Severino’s fly to deep left field easily scored Mountcastle from third.
The Yankees started the day 11/2 games ahead of Boston for the top AL wild card.
“These games are super important and we’re trying to win them,” Boone said. “We got held down enough today, so that’s frustrating and unfortunate, but we have a big one tomorrow we have to grab.”
Pinch-hitter Gleyber Torres ended Baltimore’s unexpected no-hit bid with an RBI infield single with one out in the seventh that bounced off second baseman Jahmai Jones’ glove.
Gallo snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a low line drive off right-hander Jorge Lopez with no outs that cleared the wall in right. His 31st homer scored DJ LeMahieu, who led off the inning with New York’s second hit, a 58 mph tapper that hugged the third-base line.
Cole Sulser (4-3) got the last out of the eighth and pitched a perfect ninth, striking out Torres swinging to end Baltimore’s three-hitter.
Rookie right-hander Chris Ellis allowed several hard line drives but held New York without a hit over five innings in his third major league start. Tanner Scott worked a perfect sixth before running into trouble in the seventh.
Jones booted Anthony Rizzo’s leadoff grounder for Baltimore’s second error of the game. Scott walked Brett Gardner, then was replaced by Marcos Diplan. The right-hander retired pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez before Torres’ wellplaced dribbler spoiled Baltimore’s bid at history.