Yanks beat Orioles 2-1 in 10, widen lead for playoff spot

NEW YORK (AP) — Luke Voit hit a game-ending sacrifice fly leading off the 10th inning, and the New York Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1 Saturday to open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Orioles for the American League’s eighth and final playoff berth.

With DJ LeMahieu starting the inning as the automatic runner on second, Hunter Harvey (0-2) bounced a wild pitch that advanced LeMahieu. Baltimore brought the field in.

Voit, hitting in shadows, worked the count to 2-2, fouled off three pitches and hit a fly ball to center fielder Cedric Mullins for his 37th RBI. LeMahieu scored without a throw.

A day after sweeping a doubleheader from the Orioles, New York (25-21) won its fourth straight game and closed in on Toronto (24-20) for second place in the AL East. Trying to rebound from a 5-16 slump, the Yankees are on their longest winning streak since taking six in a row from Aug. 11-17.

New York won despite going 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and making a season-high three errors, by left fielder Brett Gardner, LeMahieu at third and pitcher Jordan Montgomery.

Jonathan Holder (2-0) combined with Montgomery, Chad Green, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman on a four-hitter.

Baltimore had a runner on third with one out in the 10th before Mullins lined to second baseman Tyler Wade with the infield in, and Hanser Alberto flied out.

Montgomery struck out a career-high nine, allowing three hits and an unearned run in 5 2/3 innings. Mongtomery got five swings and misses in the first inning, two more than during in his outing Monday against Toronto, when eight of 18 batters reached base against him.

Baltimore tied the score in the sixth after Alberto singled leading off and took second when Gardner bobbled the ball for an error. Alberto tagged up on a flyout and scored when, with...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Yanks-beat-Orioles-2-1-in-10-widen-lead-for-15562552.php