Headley, Romine help Yankees salvage finale vs. Orioles
BALTIMORE -- Chase Headley and Austin Romine each had two RBIs and the New York Yankees avoided a three-game sweep by the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-2 victory Sunday.
Despite the loss, Baltimore is still clinging to the second wild card in the American League.
The Yankees won with five rookies - Gary Sanchez, Rob Refsnyder, Starlin Castro, Aaron Judge and Ronald Torreyes - in the starting lineup.
New York reliever Luis Severino (2-8) picked up the win after entering for starter Michael Pineda in the fifth inning. Dellin Betances got his eighth save by throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Yankees, who started the day 4 1/2 games behind the Orioles.
Adam Jones and Chris Davis each had two hits for Baltimore.
The Yankees got off to a quick start against Orioles left-hander Wade Miley in the first when Headley provided a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single. After Miley allowed a pair of runners to advance on a wild pitch, Romine delivered another single that scored two more runs.
Miley, who was acquired from the Mariners on Aug. 1, continued to struggle in the third as Refsnyder led off with a single and Sanchez walked. Headley then provided a 4-0 lead with an infield single.
Miley (8-12) allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks over five innings. He has lost four of his seven starts for Baltimore.
The Orioles got on the board against Pineda in the fourth on a fielder's choice by Steve Pearce that scored Mark Trumbo. Baltimore pulled to within 4-2 the following inning on a double by Pedro Alvarez that ended Pineda's day.
Severino entered and loaded the bases with one out. However, he escaped the jam by striking out Pearce and getting Matt Wieters to ground out.
Brett Gardner added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to provide the 5-2 margin.
NOTES: Yankees SS Didi Gregorius has been hit in the arm twice over the series and was held out of the lineup by manager Joe Girardi. Gregorius was available off the bench. ... Orioles LHP Brian Duensing (elbow) is expected to come off the disabled list and travel with the team to Tampa Bay for a three-game series beginning Monday. Duensing underwent surgery in June to remove cartilage chips from his left elbow. ... New York 1B Mark Teixeira got the day off after playing the previous night. Teixeira was wearing an ice pack on the back of his neck prior to the game.