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Orioles eliminate Yankees from contention

Sep 25, 2014 - 12:20 AM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Markakis and Ryan Flaherty each knocked in two runs during a six-run fourth inning, sending the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Adam Jones and David Lough ended with two RBI apiece for the Orioles, who pounded out 15 hits. Nelson Cruz went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Baltimore starter Bud Norris (15-8) allowed three runs on five hits while striking out nine over six innings. The right-hander won his fourth straight decision and improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Yankees.

"I made a couple mistakes that they kind of beat me on, which is what good teams do," said Norris. "But to have a big six-run inning like that and have a three-run cushion kind of changed the game for me. Anytime you get six runs, you're pretty excited. This is a team game. These guys swung the bats, put up nine on the board. The bullpen picked me up. Another team victory."

Mark Teixeira, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew homered for the Yankees, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Shane Greene (5-4) gave up six runs on seven hits with three walks over 3 2/3 innings.

This is the first time since 1992-93 that the Yankees have not participated in consecutive postseasons.

"It's disappointing. It's frustrating," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "This is not where you want to be at this time of year."

Derek Jeter went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter in the third game of the four-game series. There is a decent chance of rain for Thursday night when Jeter is scheduled to play at Yankee Stadium for the final time.

Jeter was given an extended ovation after he grounded out in the eighth.

"You can't help but notice. I catch myself looking around sometimes and I've always tried not to do that but I've caught myself a couple of times," said Jeter.

Trailing 3-0, the Orioles exploded for six runs in the fourth. Cruz and Steve Clevenger singled before Kelly Johnson walked to load the bases with one out. Flaherty followed with a two-run double to right. After Caleb Joseph struck out swinging on a foul tip, Markakis hit a two-run single to right. Lough added an RBI triple before scoring on Jones' bunt single.

Baltimore tacked on three more runs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Lough hit a sacrifice fly, before Jones and Cruz followed with consecutive RBI singles to make it 9-3.

Teixeira hit a two-run homer off Brad Brach in the bottom half of the eighth.

Darren O'Day tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his fourth save of the season.

The Yankees opened the scoring with two outs in the first inning, as Headley singled and raced home from first on Teixeira's double into the right-field corner. Drew belted his seventh homer of the season leading off the second.

Greene cruised through the first two innings, then surrendered a one-out single to Flaherty in the third before issuing a pair of two-out walks to load the bases. Jones then grounded into a force out to end the inning.

Headley homered in the third to make it 3-0 New York.

Game Notes

The Orioles improved to 13-5 against the Yankees this season ... New York went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded five ... Flaherty had three hits.