Wrapping up a 12-4 loss (Aquino and Nuño optioned)

NEW YORK - Two games lost, a series lost for the first time this month and more roster moves to come.

The Orioles are in scramble mode and no longer in first place.

Three Orioles pitchers combined to allow 12 runs today over the first seven innings and the Yankees cruised to a 12-4 victory.

Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer off Tommy Layne in the ninth for his first RBIs since Sept. 11, 2015. There was a highlight on the visiting side.

The Orioles had a 6-0-1 series record, but they've dropped the first two games in the Bronx and will try Sunday to avoid being swept. They've allowed at least 12 runs in consecutive games for third time since 2012. They've surrendered at least four home runs in consecutive games for the first time since May 31-June 1, 2016, versus the Red Sox.

It all comes down to pitching, and it's failing the Orioles, who will bring up at least one fresh arm.

Left-hander Richard Bleier has pitched in back-to-back games for Triple-A Norfolk since coming off the disabled list, totaling 2 1/3 innings, but he's going to be off tonight and he's a reliever that the Orioles have talked about promoting. He makes sense, as a lefty who could replace Jayson Aquino or Vidal Nuño, who have appeared in the first two games of the series and been rocked.

The club prefers to keep left-hander Chris Lee at Norfolk and let him get on a roll after a slow start.

The Orioles were outscored 25-4 in a span of 11 innings since taking a 9-1 lead last night, the Yankees increasing the margin with three runs off Aquino in the seventh today. Donnie Hart restored order in the eighth, after manager Buck Showalter replaced Chris Davis at first base, Jonathan Schoop at second base and Adam Jones in center field.

Schoop was hit on the elbow in the sixth and came out after attempting a few swings in the cage. He felt some weakness, but no tests are scheduled.

Ubaldo Jiménez has worked 3 1/3 innings in his last two starts after going 4 1/3 in his first two. His gem in Cincinnati is nestled in the middle and no longer casting the same glow.

Jiménez owns a 7.43 ERA in 23 innings. One quality start and four outings when he hasn't exceeded 4 1/3 innings. This is an issue, especially as the Orioles try to get along without ace Chris Tillman, who is staying on his injury rehab start and pitching Tuesday night in Charlotte.

Nuño served up Jacoby Ellsbury's grand slam last night and allowed Austin Romine's two-run single today in his two-inning stint. He has a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings, and that includes 2 2/3 scoreless on Monday against the Rays.

Aquino replaced Nuño less than 24 hours after surrendering Matt Holliday's walk-off home run in the 10th inning. Is this an indication that Alec Asher is starting Tuesday night in Boston?

Asher wasn't used because he's backing up left-hander Wade Miley on Sunday. But yes, Asher now is the leading candidate if he isn't needed in relief.

Aquino allowed Didi Gregorius' RBI double and Aaron Judge's two-run homer in the seventh, raising his ERA to 9.39. He managed to lower it to 9.00 after striking out Romine to end the seventh.

Romine had five RBIs today, matching his total coming into the game. Brett Gardner was batting .188 with no home runs or RBIs before homering twice in two innings and driving in four runs.

The Orioles needed an error and a wild pitch to score twice in the sixth. It was that kind of day.

It's been that kind of weekend.

Manager Buck Showalter on whether he's concerned about Jiménez: "I mean, it's a pattern we've seen before and it's frustrating. He's not the only one, he's not the only one, but it certainly put us in a hole early in a game that we really needed some innings and we just weren't able to deliver."

Showalter on what's troubling Jiménez: "Kind of the same. You can go back to some other games when he's struggled. It's nothing really different. It's just difficult for him to stay together, and then he gets in a groove and it's good. But obviously early on it's been less good."

Showalter on Judge, who has three home runs in the series: "He's not picking on us, he's picking on everybody. He's a good player and having a good start to his season."

Showalter on whether a pitcher is needed from the minors: "Definitely tomorrow. We knew it was going to be a challenge today, especially if we got a short start, but Vidal and Jayson didn't pitch very much last night and then Donnie (Hart) could use an inning, but that was about all I had today.

"I really wanted to stay away from Asher because left-handed starter tomorrow, you're going to need some length regardless of who it is and how they've been pitching, and it has to be right-handed. That's why we stayed away from Ash today."

Showalter on whether he might move Jiménez to bullpen: "We're always trying to put our best foot forward. We look at everything and say 'If not him, then who?' and kind of look at other things. He's not the only one who didn't pitch well today and he's not the only one who's had a tough start, but it certainly seems to be magnified because he's had his ups and downs."

Showalter on Joseph getting first RBIs: "Even in a tough game like this, you take in some good moments. You watch Adam Jones out there competing. It's hot, sticky. The pitching staff the last couple of days, what have we given up, 26 runs? Adam Jones firing on all ends. Caleb just missed another one. Trust me, you do take something out of it. You don't say you can't celebrate that because we got beat. You do. It's a big deal for Caleb. I think he's handled it well and we all know he's better than that."

Showalter on Nuño and Aquino: "Jayson is better than that. He's shown us as a starter. Vidal had a good outing the last time out, the time before last. He hasn't been very good the last couple, so we'll continue to try and make the proper adjustments, and I can after I finish talking to you all.

"It's not magnified, but when you know they can't pitch the next couple of days and you're going to need arms because you get short starts ... Kevin (Gausman) really should have been able to pitch in that seventh inning last night. He knew that, and that's kind of where it didn't get done."

Showalter on Schoop: "He got hit pretty good right there on the elbow. Just like Chris Davis got hit yesterday by (CC) Sabathia in the elbow. That one's pretty sore. He had some weakness in it. He went in and tried to hit, but had no real ... being able to push it much. I knew when he got hit because Jon's a tough kid. He got right above the elbow, which kind of compresses the nerves there. It's real weak. It usually manages itself good over 12-16 hours, but we'll see what he's like tomorrow. But didn't feel like there was a need for an X-ray from where it was hit."

Jiménez on issues: "In that second inning I walked two guys and that's never good, and then I allowed that homer. That's what hurt me."

Jiménez on going through this before: "Keep working. I never put my head down. I know it's tough, especially going out there every fifth day and I'm not helping the team at all. I only had one good game and the other ones I haven't been able to get to the fifth inning. I have to find a way to get back on track, and I know I can. I just have to keep working."

Jiménez on falling behind hitters: "It doesn't work. It's not good at all. If I don't have good movement and then I start walking guys, they're going to take advantage of that, and that's what they did today."

Jiménez on how he can fix his problems: "I think I have to find my fastball command. I have to stay ahead most of the time. That's what's hurting me the most. I'm falling behind in the count and every time I come back, I get hurt."

Jiménez on whether it's frustrating because he knows he's capable of better: "Yeah, it's tough. I've been there before. I know it's tough, but I know I can get out of it, too. I'm going to keep working hard and I'm going to find a way to get back."

Joseph on Jiménez: "Ubaldo has thrown a lot of really nice games. I think one of the big things with Ubaldo is getting ahead, being aggressive in the zone. The most important pitch for pitchers is strike one. And when he's in the zone and throws that strike one, he usually has good results. Today he wasn't able to do that. He was just missing on the other side of the plate. And it is frustrating because we know that he's got it.

"There's not a more frustrated guy than him. We know that. We know that he's going to bounce back. He did last year. He's bounced back every year. So, I'm looking forward to him bouncing back, because we're going to need him down the stretch.

Joseph on ending his RBI drought: "You're in a tough spot because you're getting your you-know-what whipped. You want to be excited because there's a lot of enduring there - mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, all of them. But the most important thing is a W.

"We weren't able to put anything together today. Pitchers had a rough time, hitters had a rough time. But the thing about it is our pitchers have kept us in the game for the most part this entire month. They've really been the main reason why we're in the spot we are, so we're not going to hit the panic button or try to reinvent the wheel with these guys.

"It's two rough games. We are going to look forward to Wade getting us on track tomorrow."

Update: The Orioles optioned Aquino and Nuño to Norfolk.