Yankees grind out win over Orioles in game full of twists and turns

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BALTIMORE — As Pete Alonso’s towering fly ball to left field sailed over the foul pole, it sure looked like the Orioles had taken a late lead over the Yankees. 

But to the surprise of many at Camden Yards on Wednesday, the ball was called foul — and after a lengthy review, the call stood and the game remained tied. 

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And these Yankees, while hardly overpowering, took advantage and won their third straight, 5-3. 

As Aaron Boone said, “We were able to hold on for dear life.” 

The winning rally in the top of the eighth featured just one hit, a bases-loaded infield single by George Lombard Jr. 

Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch and Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked before José Caballero, hitting for the injured Ryan McMahon, was also drilled by right-hander Cam Sanders. 

Facing Yennier Cano, Lombard came through with the hit, and then with Austin Wells batting, Cano threw a wild pitch that scored Chisholm, who hustled to the plate despite the ball not getting far away from catcher Yohel Pozo. 

Pete Alonso's potential go-ahead homer gets called foul even after being reviewed.

You be the judge… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CiFoSlpzen

“I was ready for a ball in the dirt,” Chisholm said. 

“He was flying,” Boone said of Chisholm. “It shows what an instinctive base runner Jazz is.” 

Still, the eighth inning had a much different feel as a tie game than one in which the Yankees would have trailed by at least one run. 

Alonso, who walked down the line holding his bat before flipping it dramatically when he thought it was fair, said he “100 percent” thought the call would be overturned. 

But the MLB replay center said the replay official “could not definitively determine that the ball left the playing field in fair territory.” 

“The video room and the umpire called it foul,” Alonso said. “[Those] are the only opinions that really matter. And kudos to [the Yankees] for responding, for breaking the tie that next half inning and to Headrick for making some really tough pitches after a loud strike one.” 

Headrick, still effective despite being the most heavily used in a bullpen that’s been taxed, breathed a sigh of relief. 

“I’m a pitcher, so my vantage point was I thought it was foul,” the lefty said. “It could have gone either way. It went in our favor. We’ll take it. Once that happens, you really have to buckle down and get the out.” 

For a second straight game, the Yankees got just four innings from their starter, as Will Warren needed 90 pitches to get through four frames. 

Five relievers combined to give up just one run, as Fernando Cruz allowed a two-out homer to Dylan Beavers in the sixth. 

“They’ve been awesome,” Boone said. “The strength of the rotation and the bullpen is why we’re in this position.” 

The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the first on a double steal, as Jackson Holliday scored from third when Austin Wells threw to second in a failed attempt to get Gunnar Henderson. 

Warren retired the next two batters to avoid further damage. 

Ryan McMahon delivered a run-scoring single in the second, which was followed by a sacrifice fly by Lombard. 

Ben Rice’s 431-foot solo homer in the third made it 3-1 and they had a chance to add to their lead when García and Ramos followed with singles. 

Chisholm then lined one to first, where Samuel Basallo made a nice diving catch and Jones struck out. 

Baltimore got a run back in the third, as Alonso went the other way for his 29th homer of the season to cut the lead to one run.