The sixth inning proves pivotal as the Orioles fall at New York

It was one inning in one game, but it was pivotal tonight. In the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles failed to maximize a rally. Meanwhile, the Yankees took advantage of a rally of their own.

It led to another O's loss, this one 7-1 to New York. The Orioles have dropped three straight games, scoring just four runs in that span. The Birds fall to 2-3 on this road trip after a 2-0 start and to 53-39 for the season.

The Orioles were down 3-0 and Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi had thrown just 55 pitches when the sixth inning began. Ryan Flaherty walked and Adam Jones singled with one out. Joey Rickard doubled to left to cut New York's lead to 3-1. Manny Machado walked to load the bases and Anthony Swarzak replaced Eovaldi.

With two of the O's big run producers coming up, an offensive break-through looked quite possible for a slumping offense. But Mark Trumbo popped up on an 0-1 pitch and Jonathan Schoop did the same on a 2-0 pitch. Chance missed.

In the last of the frame, Starlin Castro, who earlier hit a two-run homer, doubled in two more runs to make it a 5-1 game. Castro drove in four on the night. He had just two RBIs over his previous 17 games. It was a contest decided by six runs in the end, but the Orioles had chances to change the fate of this one in the sixth inning and could not get it done.

New York added to its lead when Chase Headley hit a two-run shot in the eighth off Mychal Givens.

Meanwhile, the slumping Orioles offense has scored two runs or less four straight games, scoring six runs total. They have scored just 10 runs in the five games of this road trip and have gone 2-for-24 with runners in scoring position. The Birds have mustered just two runs on nine hits in the first two games of this series.

O's right-hander Vance Worley made his first start since April 15 and took the loss. Over 4 1/3 innings, he allowed three hits and three runs, throwing 88 pitches. Worley is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.16. The Orioles have seen their starting pitchers work five or fewer innings in nine of the last 13 and 20 of the past 32 games.

The Orioles are now 4-4 versus the Yankees, 20-25 on the road and 24-16 against American League East teams. They have lost the first two games of this four-game series. On Wednesday night, Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 5.77 ERA) pitches against right-hander Michael Pineda (3-9, 5.56 ERA).