BALTIMORE _ The Orioles found themselves in another middle-inning fix against the New York Yankees late Saturday afternoon. And they found another way to battle back to put themselves in position to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at Camden Yards.
This time, it wasn't the long ball that carried the Orioles to a 5-4 victory, their fourth without a loss this season. It was a combination of plate discipline and timely hitting that led to two-run rallies in the fifth and seventh innings.
The game came down to an encounter with the Yankees' terrific setup man, Dellin Betances, who came on in the seventh with one out and his team leading, 4-3. He also came into the game with a recent history of bad luck in Baltimore, and that bad fortune continued.
Mark Trumbo greeted him with a line-drive single to center that scored Chris Davis to tie the game. Hyun Soo Kim came up with two outs and brought Trumbo home with a single to right to give the Orioles the lead.
It was not a great afternoon for Orioles starter Kevin Gausman, who struggled with his command and allowed 11 base runners in just 42/3 innings. He threw 97 pitches and balked home a run in the two-run fifth inning that gave the Yankees a short-lived 4-1 lead.
Gausman has pitched 10 innings in his first two starts and allowed six runs on 13 hits and seven walks. He did not get a decision in either game.
Once again, the bullpen was airtight, with Oliver Drake, Mychal Givens, Brad Brach and Zach Britton combining to pitch 41/3 scoreless innings. Britton pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save while Givens earned his first win of the season.
