Orioles miss opportunities in 4th straight loss

NEW YORK — Michael Pineda’s electric slider produced eight strikeouts, Mark Teixeira homered in his return to the lineup and the Yankees posted their fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday, a 5-0 decision over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. 

Pineda blanked Baltimore in a 113-pitch effort, limiting their depleted batting order to five hits and two walks as he picked up his first victory since June 7. Teixeira provided support against O’s starter Yovani Gallardo, slugging his eighth homer in the fourth inning and working a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.

“Pitching is the name of the game, especially starting pitching,” Teixeira said. “When your starter goes out there and gives you a chance to win every night, you feel good about your chances. Mike was great tonight. He’s got No. 1 stuff; this guy throws 96 [mph] with a great slider. When he puts it all together, he can have nights like he did tonight.”

Brett Gardner and Ronald Torreyes each tripled and scored on sacrifice flies for the Yankees, who improved to 48-46, two games over .500 for the first time since April 12. Carlos Beltran launched his 20th home run in the eighth inning off former Yankee Chaz Roe.

With the loss and Boston’s win, the Orioles fell out of first place in the American League East for the first time since June 4.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBig Mike battles back: Pineda’s six-inning performance included a pair of key escapes, most notably in the fourth inning, as he fanned Nolan Reimold and Ryan Flaherty to leave the …

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