Dellin Betances struggles as Orioles complete second straight comeback and beat Yankees 5-4

After losing in a disappointing series opener to the Baltimore Orioles last night, the Yankees took on game two of the three game series in Camden Yards this afternoon. Masahiro Tanaka took to the mound to pitch for the first time since his Opening Day letdown against the Rays, facing off against Kevin Gausman. While Matt Holliday picked up his 2,000th career hit, the storylines of this game included Gary Sanchez leaving this game with an injury, and the Yankees blowing another late lead in a 5-4 loss.

Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky | AP

The Bombers had a great second inning and put runs on the board quickly thanks to Ronald Torreyes. Torreyes hit a two-run single to right field scoring Chase Headley and Aaron Hicks to make the score 2-0, Yankees. Brett Gardner showed off his speed yet again by stealing second and then advancing to third on a throwing error by Orioles’ catcher Welington Castillo. However, he was unable to score as Gary Sanchez struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Gardner made an impressive diving catch in left field to make the first out of the fourth inning. Still, the Orioles’ struck back when Castillo singled on a line drive to center field. Manny Machado scored, making the the score 2-1, Yankees.

The fifth inning was busy for the both the Yankees and the Orioles. In the top of the inning, Gary Sanchez exited the game after injuring his right arm after fouling a ball off. The Yankees have since placed him on the 10-day DL after diagnosing him with a right biceps strain. Austin Romine would replace him, and walked in his at-bat. Jacoby Ellsbury singled, allowing Romine to advance to third. Romine scored and Ellsbury advanced to second on a balk by Gausman, making the score 3-1. Starlin Castro then singled, allowing Ellsbury to score plating the fourth run of the game for the Yankees.

Unfortunately in the bottom of the fifth, Tanaka’s struggles returned. To start off, Seth Smith singled to center field, followed by Adam Jones being hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, Machado doubled to right field, scoring Smith and advancing Jones to third. Tanaka then walked Chris Davis, loading the bases with nobody out. Mark Trumbo grounded into a force out, due to the call of the double play being overturned, scoring Jones to make it a 4-3 game. With runners on first and third, Tanaka walked Castillo once again loading the bases for the Orioles with just one out. Needing a big out, Tanaka got a key strikeout call on a 3-2 pitch to strike Hyun Soo Kim out looking. Tanaka escaped the jam after getting Jonathan Schoop to fly out in the infield to end the inning and limit the damage.

Adam Warren replaced Tanaka in the sixth, getting the job done with a quick one, two, three inning with one strikeout. He then got Machado to ground out in the seventh before being replaced by Tommy Layne, who came on to face left-hander Chris Davis. Layne was unable to get the job done as Davis doubled, and he was replaced by Dellin Betances. Betances struggled allowing a single to Trumbo, which led to Davis scoring and tying the game at four. Kim put the O’s ahead 5-4 with an RBI single scoring Trumbo, who aggressively stole second base during Kim’s at-bat.

In the eighth inning, both Headley and Hicks walked, leaving a scoring opportunity for Torreyes. Torreyes popped out, taking us to the bottom of the eighth. Jonathan Holder replaced Betances, and he recorded a one, two, three inning including a strikeout.

In the top of the ninth, Matt Holliday got on with two outs on an infield single where Machado dove for a ball, but subsequently throw it in the dirt with Davis unable to pick it at first. Chris Carter came  up to bat for the Yankees and a hit that looked like could’ve been a huge home run was caught at the warning track. The Yankees lost 5-4 in a disappointing and frustrating loss to the Baltimore Orioles in game two of this three game set.

Winning pitcher: Mychal Givens (1-0, 0.00 ERA): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Losing pitcher: Dellin Betances (0-1, 1 BS, 6.75 ERA): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K

Save: Zach Britton (3)

Notables:

Matt Holliday: 2-5, 2 K

Starlin Castro: 2-4, 1 RBI

Aaron Hicks: 1-2, R, 2 BB

Ronald Torreyes: 2-4, 2 RBI

Adam Warren: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Masahiro Tanaka: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 5 K (11.74 ERA through two starts)

Seth Smith: 2-5, R, K

Adam Jones: 1-4, R

Manny Machado: 1-3, 2B, R, RBI

Chris Davis: 1-2, 2B, R, 2 BB

Mark Trumbo: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Article by: Natalie Calzetoni

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