The Orioles entered Thursday’s game with a 13.2-percent chance of making the postseason, a number that undoubtedly dropped following their latest loss in the Bronx. After welcoming back Robinson Cano and taking two out of three games against the Seattle Mariners at home, the Yankees won the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles yesterday by a final score of 3-2. And though they are technically now in fourth place, the Jays and Rays are right there with them.

The Yankees could potentially leave New York with a seven-game lead if they were to sweep Baltimore. 500 at 46-46, five games out of the penthouse. Whether it’s in advance or bought the day of the game, admission to see the best teams in the division are half-off.

Overall it was Iwakuma’s third strong start in a row, but with the Mariners at 44-52 and 7.5 out of the Wild Card, it is possible he might be a trade target for other teams if the Mariners decide to be sellers at the trade deadline, which is July 31 at 4 p.m. He is 34 years old and will be a free agent after this season.

The three-game sweep improved them to 12-4 in the month of July.

Even with the home runs, Tanaka had few difficulties, striking out seven without a walk and throwing 101 pitches. It wasn’t too big a deal though, as it only cut the Yankees’ lead to seven runs. First pitch is scheduled for a 7:05 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally. “I think that’s helped, but the guys are just playing well”.

Adam Jones was over another tough loss in New York about a quickly as Chase Headley’s first-inning drive soared past the All-Star center fielder.

For additional team radio station affiliates: Yankees and Orioles.

How Tanaka pitches will go a long way toward deciding if the Yankees will maintain their lead in the AL East. In his own mind, Tanaka believes he will notice the magnitude more later in the year.

On Thursday, the New York Yankees will start a big game of another caliber. The Yankees had second and third and none out but Chen settled down and retired the side. Hardy and third baseman Manny Machado but little else. Once his day was done, Gausman had allowed four runs on six hits, two walks and had struck out four. Chris Capuano and Branden Pinder combined to cover the last 1 1/3 innings and secure the Yankees the win. You can survive giving up solo home runs. His replacement, John Ryan Murphy, had a memorable afternoon while going 3-for-4. Pomeranz gave up two runs in 1 2-3 innings, and the bullpen also struggled to contain Toronto’s potent hitters. Also, in two starts against Baltimore this season, Eovaldi has a 1-0 record with a shaky 4.22 ERA.

The Orioles didn’t get their first runner in scoring position against Eovaldi, who allowed two runs and four hits, until the fifth.

In the top of the second, Chris Davis homered in his second straight at bat to cut the lead to 4-1, but the Yankees took that run right back with a solo shot by Ellsbury in the bottom of the inning. They would fail to do so as the lack of run support and run production continues to haunt the O’s and cause them to lose 4-3 to the Yanks.

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi was very pleased with Tanaka’s third straight win, “I thought he used his slider and his split extremely well”.