Trent Grisham homered and later hit a tiebreaking two-run single to carry the New York Yankees past the host Baltimore Orioles in a 3-1 victory Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.
George Lombard Jr. joined Grisham with two hits for a Yankees lineup that managed only five, but New York, which had Monday off, won its second game in a row.
Coby Mayo homered for the Orioles, who returned from a 5-5 road trip and suffered their second consecutive defeat after beating the American League-best Tampa Bay Rays in three straight games. Mayo had Baltimore’s only extra-base hit and the Orioles stranded eight runners, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Yerry De los Santos (1-0) picked up the victory with two shutout innings in relief.
Yankees starter Carlos Rodon, coming off the injury list for his first big-league appearance since June 28, lasted four innings. He allowed Mayo’s homer and one other hit.
Brent Headrick, Fernando Cruz, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar completed what became a combined four-hitter for New York pitchers. Bednar posted his 28th save.
Orioles starter Shane Baz (4-13) was tagged with the loss despite striking out a season-best 10 batters in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits and issued two walks, but he was charged with all three runs. Baltimore has lost the last six games in which Baz has pitched.
Grisham opened the scoring by hammering a two-out home run in the third inning. Mayo, who like Grisham rapped his 17th homer of the season, tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the third.
The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the seventh before Josh Walker struck out pinch hitter Amed Rosario. But Grisham followed with the go-ahead single off Walker.
New York batters struck out 14 times. Other than a 4-3, 10-inning win Sunday at Toronto, the Yankees have gone four consecutive games without scoring more than three runs.
