The New York Yankees split their final regular-season doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, dropping the opener 10-2 before grabbing a 6-3 victory in the nightcap at Yankee Stadium.
New York moved to 93-68 with the split and improved to 9-3 against Baltimore this season, while the Orioles fell to 79-82 and were assured of their second consecutive losing season.
Baltimore controlled the opener behind a pair of home runs from Pete Alonso and a grand slam by Dylan Beavers. Alonso launched his American League-leading 42nd home run in the third inning before Beavers followed with a bases-loaded blast that turned a 2-0 game into a 7-0 Orioles lead.
Brendan Beck made his second start of the season and allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks over five innings while striking out eight. Alonso added his second home run in the seventh and finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in.
The Yankees answered in the nightcap with a three-run sixth inning. After Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. walked, Spencer Jones delivered a bloop single that brought home two runs. Anthony Volpe followed with a double down the right-field line that bounced into the stands for another two runs.
Ryan McMahon had two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth, while Ramos and Garcia added run-scoring singles in the seventh. Will Warren provided 3.2 strong innings in relief, allowing three hits while striking out seven.
The Yankees will close out the regular season Sunday at 3:20 p.m. before opening the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
Yankees, Red Sox to meet again in American League Wild Card round for second straight year 
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.