Brendan Ryan's tiebreaking double lifts Yankees to win in series opener

On a night when they struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, a key double by their No. 9 hitter before a runner had even advanced that far was big tonight for the New York Yankees.

Brendan Ryan's two-bagger scored the tiebreaking run from first base in the last of the sixth and the Yankees bullpen made it stand up in a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

In losing for the 12th time in 17 games, the Orioles fall to 46-46 and drop five games behind the first-place Yankees.

The Orioles have lost eight straight series-opening games at Yankee Stadium.

New York scored single runs in the first and second to lead 2-0. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to start the first inning, moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on an Alex Rodriguez sac fly.

The second inning started with singles by Brian McCann and Chris Young, and a Chase Headley RBI double made it 2-0. But Wei-Yin Chen got out of a second-and-third, no-out situation to hold it at one run that frame.

The Orioles got almost nothing going early on versus Nathan Eovaldi until they tied it 2-2 in the sixth. Jimmy Paredes and Adam Jones singled with one out. With two outs, Matt Wieters singled in a run, and J.J. Hardy's single off reliever Jeff Wilson made it 2-2.

But Chen could not hold the 2-2 tie in the last of the sixth, although he got two quick outs. No. 8 hitter Didi Gregorius singled and Ryan doubled down the left field line to provide New York a 3-2 lead.

On his 30th birthday, Chen allowed three runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings. His streak of seven straight starts allowing two earned runs or less ended, but he extended his streak to six straight quality starts to tie his career high. He falls to 4-6 with an ERA of 2.86.

Justin Wilson got the win in relief, while Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller pitched the last 2 1/3 innings to preserve their one-run lead. Miller, the former Oriole, is now 21-for-21 in save chances.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 14 games to improve to 51-41. They are 28-17 at home, going 19-7 in their last 26 home games. They are 6-5 this season versus the Orioles.

In the second game of the series on Wednesday night, Kevin Gausman (1-1, 5.00 ERA) faces right-hander Ivan Nova (1-3, 3.42 ERA).