BALTIMORE—The Orioles’ offense continued to struggle on Friday as they lost for the fourth straight time, 4-1 to the New York Yankees before 39.566 at Oriole Park. The loss reduced their lead in the American League East over New York to one game.
It also contained a ninth-inning scare and drama.
Heston Kjerstad was hit in the helmet by Yankees closer Clay Holmes and dropped to the ground. He left the game for pinch-runner Austin Hays, with manager Brandon Hyde holding his helmet. Hyde was angry when he came out of the dugout, a possible carryover to the Yankees-Orioles series in New York when Yankee slugger Aaron Judge was hit by a pitch and Oriole shortstop Gunnar Henderson was hit the next day.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and his coaches were yelling at Hyde, who tossed Kjerstad’s helmet and headed for the Yankees’ dugout. No punches were thrown but the dugouts and bullpens emptied. Hyde was ejected.
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The Orioles (57-37) have lost 12 of their last 20. In their current skid, they’ve scored just three runs in four games.
Before the game, Hyde said the key for Oriole starter Cade Povich was getting through the first inning. New York loaded the bases with two outs and didn’t score after Alex Verdugo grounded to short.
Jose Trevino’s RBI double and Jahmai Jones’ RBI single in the second gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
Ramón Urias’ RBI triple against Gerrit Cole scored Heston Kjerstad to cut the lead to 2-1.
Judge homered to left, his major league-leading 33rd home run in the third. He walked in his other four plate appearances.
Yankee starter Gerrit Cole (2-1) gave up a run on five hits in six innings. After Urías’ triple, Cole retired seven straight.
Cedric Mullins started the fifth inning on second after he singled and advanced to second on a wild throw by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, and Anthony Santander singled to begin the sixth, and didn’t’ advance.
Ryan Mountcastle singled to begin the seventh against Tommy Kahnle, and he also remained on first.
Povich (1-4) made it through 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking five and striking out six.
Burch Smith pitched for the first time for the Orioles in relief of Povich, retiring the four batters he faced.
Juan Soto drove in Trevino with a two-out single in the ninth for a 4-1 lead, with first baseman Ryan Mountcastle cutting off the throw home. Soto was caught off first, but he returned to the bag when the Orioles failed to cover it.
Holmes recorded his 20th save after order was restored.