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Recap: Yankees 6, Orioles 5
Yankees 6, Orioles 5: Baltimore closer Jim Johnson wild-pitched home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and visiting New York wrapped up the four-game series with three straight wins.
Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer, Curtis Granderson added a solo shot and Vernon Wells delivered a two-run single for the Yankees, who remained one game behind Tampa Bay for the second wild card in the American League.
David Robertson surrendered a three-run tying homer to Danny Valencia in the eighth so the official scorer credited the win to Mariano Rivera (6-2), who set down the side in the order in the ninth.
Johnson (3-8) surrendered a leadoff single in the ninth to Brendan Ryan before throwing a sacrifice bunt attempt into center field to put runners at first and second with no outs. After Granderson sacrificed the runners up a base, Johnson uncorked a wild pitch to allow Ryan to scamper home with the winning run.
Yankees starter Phil Hughes lasted only three-plus innings and was relieved by David Huff, who followed with three innings of one-run relief of Phil Hughes. Baltimore’s Wei-Yin Chen struck out nine but allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Yankees CF Brett Gardner left the game with a strained left oblique after batting in the top of the first inning and was replaced by Granderson. … The Orioles honored retiring Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during pregame ceremonies. Rivera has 79 saves against Baltimore, his most against any opponent. … Yankees RHP Ivan Nova, who left his last start with tightness in his triceps, said he expects to make his next start Sunday in the finale of a three-game series in Boston. The Orioles head to Toronto to open a three-game set on Friday.
