Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer with two outs in the third inning and a long solo home run in the seventh and the Baltimore Orioles rolled to a 10-2 victory over the host New York Yankees in the opener of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.
Dylan Beavers added a grand slam with two outs in the fourth off New York rookie Brendan Beck (0-2) as the Orioles (79-81) won for the seventh time in 10 games and avoided clinching a second straight losing season. Baltimore continued its recent improvement after being eliminated from postseason contention when the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon.
Jeremiah Jackson hit an inside-the-park solo homer in the sixth as the Orioles beat the Yankees for the third time in 11 meetings this season.
Christian Franklin and Gunnar Henderson contributed RBI singles for the Orioles, who won their first game at Yankee Stadium this season after being outscored 39-10 during a four-game sweep May 1-4.
Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers allowed one run on five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one before Albert Suarez (3-0) followed with four scoreless innings.
The Orioles went ahead when Alonso jumped on Beck’s first-pitch slider and hit a 407-foot shot into the left field seats
After taking a three-run lead on Christian Franklin’s single to right field, Beavers hit his first career grand slam when he hammered a 1-1 curveball into the right field seats.
Beck allowed seven runs on six hits in five innings, walking three and striking out eight in his second career start.
Jackson hit Baltimore’s second inside-the-park homer of the season when his fly ball to right-center deflected off rookie center fielder Spencer Jones’ glove. The ball rolled into center field, and Jackson was rounding third as right fielder Amed Rosario retrieved the ball at the fence.
Alonso gave the Orioles a 9-1 lead when he crushed a 1-1 changeup from reliever Yerry De Los Santos into the left field bleachers for a 471-foot shot. Alonso ended the game with an American League-leading 43 homers and tied St. Louis first baseman Alec Burleson for the major league lead with 113 RBIs.
Rosario had an RBI single and Paul Goldschmidt hit a sacrifice fly for the Yankees (92-68), who took the loss after honoring Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia in a pregame ceremony. Sabathia was honored by having his jersey number retired and also got a plaque in Monument Park.
