Yankees lefty CC Sabathia pitched well, but Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman pitched better. And the game’s most decisive hits came off the bat of Baltimore’s Steve Pearce, not Yankee Gary Sanchez.
So the growing Sanchez saga derailed for a game. Oh, the rookie collected two hits, including a double, serving as the DH but neither landed in another zip code, and the Yankees were hard-pressed to do anything against Gausman.
Add in some terrific defense at third by Manny Machado, the MLB-leading 40th homer of the season by Mark Trumbo and the Orioles had more than enough to snuff the Yankees, 5-0, and again push them 3 ½ games behind the second American League wild-card spot Sunday before an announced crowd of 38,002 at Yankee Stadium.