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Yankees squander second chance and secure AL East by losing to Orioles

Barring a surprise collapse, the Yankees will likely win the American League East title sometime during the final four days of the regular season.

But Wednesday was an ugly pit stop on the way there.

The bad news started hours before the first pitch when Nestor Cortes was taken out of the game and placed on the injured list with a strained left elbow flexor that jeopardizes his ability to play in the postseason.

Marcus Stroman, who allowed six runs, is taken out of the game by Aaron Boone in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 9-7 loss to the Orioles on September 25, 2024. Corey Sipkin / New York Post
Jazz Chisholm slams his bat on the ground in the fifth inning of the Yankees loss after being thrown out with the bases loaded. Corey Sipkin / New York Post

Then his backup Marcus Stroman allowed six consecutive singles to start the game – including a crucial defensive error by left fielder Jasson Dominguez – and things didn't get much better from there, as the Yankees lost their second straight game 9-7 to the Orioles in front of 41,010 excited fans in the Bronx.

Aaron Boone looks frustrated after taking Marcus Stroman out of the game in the fourth inning of the Yankees' loss. Corey Sipkin / New York Post
Aaron Judge jogs back to the dugout after the Orioles scored three runs in the first inning of their loss to the Yankees. Corey Sipkin / New York Post

The Yankees (92-66) trailed 9-3 at the start of the ninth inning, but then caught up and made things exciting, including a three-run shot by Aaron Judge, his 57th home run of the year.

But the champagne stayed cold for the second night in a row, as the Yankees' magic number to win the division remained at one while the Orioles fell to four games behind with four games left to play.

The Yankees' magic number for the best record in the AL also remained at three (they are now only half a game ahead of the Guardians).

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