Smith homer powers Orioles past Yankees
BALTIMORE -- Seth Smith hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning that capped a comeback from a four-run deficit and gave the Baltimore Orioles a 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
The Yankees had taken a 5-1 lead thanks to early two-run homers from Matt Holliday (third) and Gary Sanchez (fifth) off starter Ubaldo Jimenez. But Manny Machado sliced the lead to one with a three-run shot in the fifth against New York starter Luis Severino.
Baltimore (3-0) then received a break when third baseman Chase Headley made a throwing error -- his second of the game -- that allowed Jonathan Schoop to reach starting the seventh. Two batters later, Smith homered to right off Tyler Clippard (0-1) and put the Orioles on top, 6-5.
Donnie Hart (1-0) got the win in relief after getting the final out in the top of the seventh. Brad Brach then struck out the side in the eighth before Zach Britton closed out New York (1-3) in the ninth, earning his second save.
For Baltimore, Jimenez struggled in his start, giving up five runs and seven hits. including the two homers, in 4 1/3 innings.
Severino gave up four runs and six hits in five innings, but the Machado homer proved crucial to the Orioles, and the Yankees' bullpen couldn't hold on to the 5-4 lead the right-hander gave them.
Both teams scored once in a 30-minute first inning. Holliday gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead with his RBI single to right before Adam Jones tied it in the bottom half with his RBI single.
Holliday struck again in the third inning with a two-run homer that gave New York a 3-1 lead.
Sanchez then knocked out Jimenez with his two-run blast to left in the fifth, a homer that put the Yankees on top 5-1.
NOTES: RHP Chris Tillman, on the disabled list (shoulder bursitis), headed to Florida Friday and will throw two innings or 30 pitches in an April 11 game at extended spring training. The Orioles hope he'll return in early May. ... The three-run homer 3B Manny Machado hit was his first this season; as well as his first three RBIs. ... New York LF Brett Gardner helped in several ways, going 3-for-5, scoring three runs and stealing two bases.