Gardner’s 2-run single in 9th lifts Yankees over Orioles

BALTIMORE — Brett Gardner blooped a tworun single in the ninth inning that was set up by a double steal, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Wednesday night for their third straight win.

The Yankees kept pace with Toronto and Boston atop the AL wild-card standings as all three teams won.

Austin Hays homered twice for the Orioles, including a two-out, tworun drive in the eighth off Chad Green for a 3-2 lead. The homer came soon after second baseman Gleyber Torres knocked down a hard liner and instead of throwing to second to get the lead runner, tossed to first to put out Cedric Mullins.

Orioles reliever Tyler Wells (2-3) walked Luke Voit to begin the ninth and Torres followed with a single. Pinch-runner Tyler Wade and Torres pulled off a double steal with one out as it began to rain.

Gardner followed with a single to center that scored both runs, much to the delight of their fans that flocked to Camden Yards.

Wandy Peralta (5-3) earned the win and Aroldis Chapman got his 27th save.

Gio Urshela launched a two-run homrer into the left-center bleachers in the third. Urshela took over as the full-time shortstop this week for the error-prone Torres and had a diving catch off a hard liner by Austin Wynns for the final out in the fifth.

Mullins took a two-run homer away from Gary Sanchez in the second with a leaping grab over the center-field fence. Orioles starter John Means pointed to Mullins in celebration and Sanchez walked back to the dugout in disbelief.

Means had another effective outing and allowed two runs and four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. It was the fifth time this season the Orioles failed to score a run when Means was on the mound.

Hays homered in the sixth and added his 20th of the season in the eighth.

TRAINING ROOM

Yankees: RHP Domingo German (right shoulder inflammation) did not have any issues after pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday and could rejoin the team as a reliever after one more rehab outing. German has gone 4-5 with a 4.45 ERA over 21 games (18 starts) this season.

UP NEXT

Yankees: LHP John Montgomery (5-6, 3.71 ERA) picked up the win against Baltimore with six scoreless innings on April 5.

Rob Carr / Getty Images The Yankees’ Gleyber Torres, left, celebrates with Tyler Wade after they both scored in the ninth inning at Baltimore on Wednesday.