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Jeter, Pineda lead Yankees over Orioles

Sep 23, 2014 - 3:48 AM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Derek Jeter began his final home series by driving in three runs as part of the New York Yankees' 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Jeter delivered an RBI groundout in the third inning and a two-run double in the fifth. The retiring shortstop's big night overshadowed a brilliant performance from New York starter Michael Pineda, who dominated Baltimore's hitters over 7 1/3 innings to help the Yankees win for the fifth time in six games.

Pineda (4-5) yielded just one hit -- a fifth-inning single to J.J. Hardy -- and a walk while striking out a season-high eight.

Jose Pirela belted an RBI triple in his first major league at-bat and finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored to aid the Yankees' cause. Chase Headley also collected a pair of hits, including a solo home run.

Despite Monday's result, New York still trails Kansas City by four games for the American League's final wild card with six remaining.

"I really believe we have to pretty much win out, but you never know," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "Strange things happen in sports, we've seen it. It's obviously tougher when you're chasing more than one team, but the teams we're chasing have had their struggles, too."

Hardy's hit was the only one for Baltimore in the loss, the first since August 6 for Wei-Yin Chen (16-5). The left-hander was reached for four runs -- two earned -- over six innings.

"I think we've got to tip our hat to Pineda," Hardy said. "He was throwing good. He's got good stuff. It's not like we're not trying to go out there."

Pineda had received a mere one run of support while on the mound over his previous four outings, but the Yankees gave him two before he allowed his first baserunner.

Ichiro Suzuki reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third inning and Pirela quickly made his presence felt, socking a Chen offering to the base of the wall in left center and hustling his way to third. The rookie then scored on Jeter's grounder to short.

That was enough for Pineda, who opened the game with 13 straight outs before Hardy singled in the fifth. The big righty then set down nine in a row prior to walking Christian Walker and being removed.

"He's been pitching well for a while, he's not just picking on us," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "Just gives you a reminder of how good he is."

Chen kept the Orioles in it until the bottom of the fifth, which Pirela kept alive with a two-out single and Brett Gardner drew a walk to bring up Jeter. The Yankee captain then ended an eight-pitch battle by lacing a full-count fastball into the left-field corner to plate both runners for a 4-0 lead.

Headley's blast into Monument Park off Ryan Webb in the eighth capped the scoring.

Game Notes

Pirela became the 57th player used by New York this season, a new franchise record, and the first Yankee to triple in his initial major league at-bat since Steve Balboni on April 22, 1981 ... Baltimore's Nick Markakis returned after missing four straight games with a right shoulder injury, but went 0- for-3 ... Chen had won four straight decisions and came in 10-1 over his last 13 starts ... The Orioles' Nelson Cruz ended 0-for-3 with two strikeouts to have a nine-game hit streak halted.