Adam Jones leaves game with sore shoulder (O's lose 8-6)

NEW YORK - The Orioles left the bases loaded in the eighth inning today and lost their center fielder.

It keeps getting worse.

Adam Jones was removed from the game with a sore right shoulder. Steve Pearce entered in right field, with Gerardo Parra moving to center.

Jones grimaced while striking out to end the top of the seventh. Greg Bird hit a three-run homer off Brian Matusz in the bottom half to give the Yankees an 8-5 lead.

Jones was sidelined in late June with a sore right shoulder, costing him eight games. He's also been hindered by a sprained left ankle and he experienced concussion-like symptoms after running into an unpadded portion of the fence in Texas.

We'll find out more about Jones' injury following the game.

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances walked the bases loaded in the seventh, but Caleb Joseph struck out with the count full to end the rally. Joseph slammed his bat to the ground and snapped it in half over his knee.

The Orioles took the field for the bottom of the eighth without Jones and they're down to their last three outs.

A loss would put the Orioles seven games below .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 2011 season. The Red Sox are beating the Blue Jays, and the Orioles are in danger of slipping into a last-place tie in the American League East.

The Orioles have lost 14 of their last 17 games. They need to find a way to tie or go ahead in the ninth against left-hander Andrew Miller.

Also, left-hander Cesar Cabral was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after being designated for assignment.

Update: Chris Davis had a two-out RBI single off Miller in the ninth inning, but the Orioles lost 8-6 at Yankee Stadium for their 15th defeat in the last 18 games.

The Red Sox are ahead 11-4 in the ninth, so the Orioles will drop into a last-place tie.