By RACHEL COHEN AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) _ Michael Pineda pitched six innings, Mark Teixeira homered in his return from his latest injury, and the New York Yankees moved two games above .500 for the first time since April with a 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Pineda (4-9) had six strikeouts with runners in scoring position and didn’t allow a run for the first time all season.
New York has won the first three of the four-game series to improve to 38-36 _ the last time the Yankees were two games over .500 was April 12 when they were 4-2.
Baltimore lost its fourth straight to fall into a virtual tie for first place in the AL East with Boston, whose game with the Giants was still going on. Left shorthanded by illness and injury, the Orioles have struggled at the plate since the All-Star break, especially with runners in scoring position.
A stomach bug has been ravaging Baltimore’s clubhouse and claimed two more victims Wednesday: third baseman Manny Machado and manager Buck Showalter. First baseman Chris Davis missed his third straight game with the flu-like symptoms that put him in the hospital Sunday night.
Catcher Matt Wieters was out after being hit by a pitch on his right foot in the first inning Monday. Bench coach John Russell filled in for Showalter.
The bottom third of Baltimore’s lineup, all backups forced into action, went a combined 0 for 9.
Yovani Gallardo (3-2) couldn’t keep it close, though he also didn’t get much help from his defense. He allowed four runs and five hits with five strikeouts and four walks in seven innings.
Leading off the bottom of the first, Brett Gardner ripped a line drive to the warning track that right fielder Joey Rickard tracked down, but the ball bounced off the inside of his glove. Center fielder Adam Jones then bobbled it, and Gardner motored into third for what was ruled a triple. Carlos Beltran drove him in with a one-out sacrifice fly.
Beltran started at designated hitter, leaving Alex Rodriguez on the bench. The Yankees had not scored a first-inning run in their previous 23 games.
Trailing 1-0, the Orioles had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth but Pineda struck out Nolan Reimold and Ryan Flaherty. Pineda allowed five hits and two walks, striking out eight and throwing 113 pitches. Dellin Betances, Nick Goody and Chasen Shreve completed the shutout.
HEADLEY OUT
Chase Headley, originally in the Yankees’ starting lineup, missed the game with an excused absence for personal reasons. Ronald Torreyes replaced him at third base.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (5-7) starts on his 36th birthday Thursday to close out the four-game series. He has a 7.48 ERA in four career starts on his birthday; he also has a 7.94 ERA since June 22.
Orioles RHP Chris Tillman (13-2) and the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg will both try Thursday to join Chris Sale of the White Sox as the only pitchers in the majors with 14 wins.
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