Wed Sep 25 02:34:35 UTC 2024: ## Yankees Stumble, Orioles Clinch Playoff Berth with 5-3 Win

**New York, NY** – The New York Yankees’ hopes of clinching the AL East title on Tuesday night were dashed by a costly baserunning blunder by Gleyber Torres, leading to a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles, who clinched a playoff spot with the win, capitalized on the Yankees’ mistakes, scoring three home runs in consecutive innings. The victory also gave Baltimore the season series win over New York, a crucial detail should a tiebreaker situation arise.

The Yankees, despite trailing 4-1 entering the seventh inning, mounted a comeback fueled by a ground-rule double from Torres and an RBI single from Juan Soto. However, Torres’s attempt to score from second base on a throw home led to a rundown that ended the inning, robbing Aaron Judge, who hit his 56th home run earlier in the game, of a chance to tie or take the lead.

“I just tried to protect Soto,” Torres said, explaining his decision to try to score. “I was a little in between going to home plate… I feel like I went a little bit late.”

Manager Aaron Boone agreed, stating that Torres needed to commit to the run earlier. “He got caught in between,” Boone said. “You have to either sell out to go or bluff him.”

The loss left the Yankees needing one more win or one Orioles loss to clinch the division. They’ll have another chance on Wednesday.

“We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot with mistakes like that on the basepaths,” Judge said. “But it happened, and we got to move on.”

While the Orioles are looking forward to a potential postseason rematch with the Yankees, both teams recognize the intense rivalry that has developed.

“I think it’s going to be back and forth the rest of this series,” Judge said. “We’ll probably be seeing you later down the road.”

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