Left-hander Wade Miley dug the Orioles a first-inning hole they had plenty of chances to emerge from, but the batters couldn't bail him out this time.

The Orioles lost, 5-2, in Sunday's series finale before an announced 31,161 at Camden Yards against the New York Yankees after Miley allowed three runs before the Orioles came to bat.

“Wade gave up a couple walks and a duck flare and then a ground ball that rolled through, and the next thing you know, we're down 3-0,” manager Buck Showalter said.

Once the Orioles did get their hacks, they had plenty of base runners but scant production in scoring chances. Facing starter Michael Pineda for just four innings, and then four relievers for the next five, they left nine runners on base and five in scoring position, going a combined 0-for-10 in the opportunities the Yankees seemed to provide each inning.

“We know there's opportunities, but it's not that easy,” Showalter said. “They've got good pitchers. We knew that their guy is, what, eighth in the league in strikeouts?”

With four strikeouts Sunday, Pineda now ranks sixth in the American League.

“We know he's got that type of stuff,” Showalter continued. “He made some pitches when he had to, and it's that time of year when you can approach games out of your bullpen a lot different than you can during the season. And today was a good example.”

After that first inning, Miley settled in somewhat, allowing just one more run in the third inning and giving the Orioles five innings. He has now allowed four or more runs in four of his seven starts with the Orioles, and has a 7.15 ERA with a 1.68 WHIP since his July 30 trade from the Seattle Mariners.

“You can finish strong, obviously, but the first inning, that hurts and puts the team on the heels and makes it tough to catch up,” Miley said. “I feel you can always get better, obviously, just trying to battle right there, just trying to keep us in the game, as close as possible.”

Left fielder Steve Pearce drove in a run with a fourth-inning fielder's choice, and designated hitter Pedro Alvarez scored center fielder Adam Jones from first base with a double to left field in the fifth inning, but the Orioles left the bases loaded.

Vance Worley and Oliver Drake (Navy) combined for three scoreless innings of relief before the Yankees tacked on an unearned run in the ninth. Drake allowed a deep line drive by first baseman Tyler Austin, which hit off right fielder Mark Trumbo's glove for a two-base error. Austin moved to third on a bunt, then scored on a sacrifice fly.

With the Toronto Blue Jays defeating the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, the Orioles (74-62) fell three games back in the AL East.

More unusual defensive plays: The Orioles' infield has been equal parts steady and spectacular this year, and, aside from Trumbo's error, showed both Sunday. The first inning ended when Chris Davis made a short-hop snag at first base, then turned for a rare 3-6 double play. Twice — in the third and in the seventh — second baseman Jonathan Schoop turned quick double plays with fast runners on their way to first.

Most unusual of all might have been the fielder's choice that ended the sixth. Shortstop J.J. Hardy fielded the ball deep in the third-base hole and threw to second for a force attempt, but the baserunner slid through the base and Schoop tagged him out.

Jones jumps to 9th on O's hit list: Jones, with his third consecutive multi-hit game, brought his career hit total to 1,497, passing Paul Blair for ninth all time with the Orioles.

Jones is second on the team this season with 141 hits.

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