masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWei-Yin Chen matched a season high with seven earned runs and the Orioles missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the AL East as they lost 8-5 to the Yankees tonight in front of 40,861 at Camden Yards.

They fall to 77-61 and lose for just the fourth time in 14 games to once again drop one game back of the Yankees. A loss tonight would have knocked the Yankees out of first place for the first time since June 12.

Down 7-0 in the fifth, the Orioles rallied to within three…Wei-Yin Chen matched a season high with seven earned runs and the Orioles missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the AL East as they lost 8-5 to the Yankees tonight in front of 40,861 at Camden Yards.

They fall to 77-61 and lose for just the fourth time in 14 games to once again drop one game back of the Yankees. A loss tonight would have knocked the Yankees out of first place for the first time since June 12.

Down 7-0 in the fifth, the Orioles rallied to within three runs, but could get no closer. They are now 8-8 against New York.

The Yankees rocked Chen for three homers over the fourth and fifth innings as they took a 7-0 lead after five. Russell Martin hit a three-run shot while Alex Rodriguez and Steve Pearce added two-run homers.

Chen allowed the seven runs over 4 2/3 innings with six hits, one walk and four strikeouts. He was trying to become the O’s first 13-game winner since Erik Bedard in 2007.

Adam Jones homered for the second time in this series and the fifth time in 11 games. It was a three-run shot in the last of the sixth. Jones’ 29th homer made it 7-3 and it became 7-4 when Robert Andino homered to left in the seventh. Manny Machado homered with two outs in the ninth to cut the lead to the final score of 8-5.

The Yankees won to even the series and regain sole possession of the division lead. Game 3 is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. when Joe Saunders (1-1, 4.63 ERA) faces CC Sabathia (13-4, 3.42 ERA).