Drew's Pinch-Hit Slam Carries Yankees Past Orioles 6-5
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Stephen Drew delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning, and New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 Monday night for their first winning streak of the season.
Down 4-2, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs before Drew connected on a 3-1 pitch from Tommy Hunter (0-1). It was his second homer in two games and New York's first pinch-hit slam since Jorge Posada did it in 2001 against the Orioles.
Drew was batting for Brett Gardner, who hurt his right wrist in the first inning after being hit by a pitch from Wei-Yin Chen. X-rays were negative.
Chris Young and Mark Teixeira also homered for the Yankees, who have won two straight following a 1-4 start.
Adam Jones had three hits, including a home run, for Baltimore. Jones is 10 for 14 with three homers and seven RBIs in his last four games.
Michael Pineda (1-0) gave up five runs and nine hits with nine strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings for the Yankees, who were 6-13 against Baltimore last year.
Former Oriole Andrew Miller got the last five outs for his second save.
Playing on the road for the first time since his return from a one-year drug suspension, New York's Alex Rodriguez was booed soundly before the game and prior to each trip to the plate.
He played errorless ball at third base -- his first time at the position since Sept. 10, 2013 -- but went 0 for 4 at the plate with two strikeouts.
After Young hit a solo shot in the second inning, the Orioles got RBI doubles from Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop in the bottom half.
Teixeira tied it with a towering fourth-inning drive into the left field seats.
New York got two on with two outs in the sixth before Chen retired Rodriguez on a routine fly to right field.
In the Orioles' half, Alejandro De Aza hit a leadoff double and advanced to third with one out. Pineda then struck out Chris Davis for the third time before Jones hit a shot into the Baltimore bullpen for a 4-2 lead.
After Drew put the Yankees in front, the Orioles got a run in the bottom of the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs before Dellin Betances struck out Davis.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: INF Jose Pirela missed a seventh game while on the 7-day concussion disabled list. Manager Joe Girardi offered no timetable for Pirela's return.
Orioles: OF David Lough (hamstring) was activated from the 15-day DL and RH Eddie Gamboa was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
ON DECK
Yankees: CC Sabathia (0-1, 6.35 ERA) gets his second start of the season Tuesday night, looking to bolster his 18-6 lifetime record against the Orioles.
Orioles: Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 1.59 ERA) makes his home debut after going 7-2 at Camden Yards in 2014.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
