Rookie Spencer Jones and Anthony Volpe keyed a three-run sixth inning for the New York Yankees, who earned a doubleheader split with a 6-3 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
The Yankees (93-68) won for the 12th time in 18 games and improved to 9-3 against the Orioles this season. New York earned the win after learning it was locked into hosting the wild-card series against the rival Boston Red Sox for the second straight season.
The Orioles saw their four-game winning streak stopped and lost for the fourth time in their past 11 games. Baltimore (79-82) also clinched its second straight losing season.
Following walks by Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. against reliever Josh Walker, Jones hit a bloop single for a 2-0 lead and the runners advanced a base on a fielding error by right fielder Rece Hinds. Two batters later, Volpe struck a double down the right field line that carried over Hinds’ head and bounced into the stands.
Ryan McMahon had a pair of hits, including an RBI double for New York’s first run in the fifth. He also started the seventh with a single and scored on Ramos’ bloop base hit off Anthony Nunez.
Garcia followed that with an RBI single of his own to give the Yankees a 6-1 lead. Garcia’s hit was only his fourth in his past 38 at-bats.
After opener Ryan Yarbrough allowed four hits and struck out five in 2 1/3 innings, Will Warren (11-6) allowed three hits and notched seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 sharp innings during his third relief appearance this season. Warren is likely to be on New York’s postseason roster as a reliever after making 29 starts during the regular season.
In the top of the seventh, left fielder Cody Bellinger made a leaping catch on a sacrifice fly by Leody Taveras after Brent Headrick loaded the bases. Headrick capped his 81st appearance by striking out Hinds with two on.
Baltimore’s Dylan Beavers homered in the ninth after hitting a grand slam in the opener. Beavers homered off Alexander Cornielle, who was making his major league debut. Taveras had an RBI double before Cornielle finished things with a pair of strikeouts.
Baltimore starter Brandon Young (9-6) allowed one run on two hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked three in an 82-pitch outing.
