BALTIMORE — Before the Yankees went their separate ways Sunday night, some to the beach, some back home and three to the All-Star Game, they had a chance to end the first half of the season in style and with sole possession of first place in the American League East.
Instead, the Orioles gave their opponents something to chase in the second half — and it ended badly.
After Ben Rice hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the top of the ninth, Clay Holmes and his defense blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the inning and suffered a brutal 6-5 loss to the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
After Anthony Volpe’s error with two outs and the bases loaded extended the game and put the Orioles within 5-4, Cedric Mullins hit a fly to left field and Alex Verdugo batted first, but he repeatedly backed off and tripped.
By the time the ball landed behind Verdugo, he was on the ground as fans in the Orioles dugout spilled onto the field celebrating.
The Orioles (58-38) avoided a sweep with a stunning come-from-behind victory and went into the All-Star break in sole possession of first place in the division, one game ahead of the Yankees (58-40).
The Orioles put two runners on base with one out against Holmes, but he struck out Gunnar Henderson looking and then walked Adley Rutschman on four pitches to load the bases.
Ryan Mountcastle followed with a grounder to shortstop that should have ended the game, but Volpe dropped it, allowing the Orioles to continue their rally.
Rice looked like he was going to be a hero when he hit a three-run homer off Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth to put the Yankees up 5-3.
