Yankees beat Orioles 5-2 to salvage finale of 3-game series

BALTIMORE (AP) Chase Headley and Austin Romine had two RBIs apiece, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep and remain afloat in the AL wild-card race.

After the Yankees were blanked in the first two games of the series, manager Joe Girardi called the finale ''probably the most important game of the year.''

Although he placed five rookies in the starting lineup, Girardi got the victory he needed to keep his young, retooled team in contention for the postseason. New York began the day 4 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot.

Luis Severino (2-8) pitched two strong innings of relief and Dellin Betances, the fifth New York reliever, got four outs for his eighth save.