Wallace Matthews, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Rapid Reaction: Orioles 4, Yankees 3 (Game 2)

BALTIMORE -- Well, if it had been the New York Yankees' plan to keep everyone interested right up to the final game of the season, they have succeeded. Against all odds, their final game has become arguably their most important, now that they lost a doubleheader to the Baltimore Orioles, as well as five of their past six games, while the Houston Astros are leading the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Now the Yankees absolutely, positively, no doubt about it have to win their season finale Sunday against the O's at Camden Yards if they want to play at least one more game at Yankee Stadium this season. That would be Tuesday in the AL wild-card game, for the right to enter the "real" postseason. The Yankees, who fell 4-3 in Game 2 on Saturday, are assured of being in that game but not of playing at home, where they are a better and more confident team. Oh, of all the dramatic things!

Thumbs up: Luis Severino, who despite allowing two home runs, including one to Nolan Reimold on his second pitch of the game, settled down to give the Yankees seven innings of five-hit, three-run ball and reinforce his status as a strong candidate to open the ALDS if the Yankees get that far. Didi Gregorius, who hit the ball twice, with a sacrifice fly that drove in the first Yankees run and a heads-up play to tag Steve Pearce out at second when the Baltimore left fielder tried to stretch a Greg Bird error to second in the sixth. Rob Refsnyder had two hits to raise his average to .310 and scored the Yankees' second run.

Thumbs down: Dellin Betances, who went from solid rock to shaky Jell-O seemingly overnight. Betances caught a tough break on a looping leadoff single by Paul Janish, then dug his own grave with a wild pitch that moved Janish to second and another wild pitch -- after a heads-up bunt by Gerardo Parra that put Janish on third -- that scored him with what turned out to be the winning run. Manager Joe Girardi was hoping to rest Betances on Sunday, but now he might be forced to use Betances in a must-win game.

Also, home plate ump Mike Muchlinski for issuing warnings to both benches after a Severino pitch sailed behind the head of Janish in the fifth inning. Even though three players (Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Chris Davis) had been hit earlier, it seemed highly unlikely Severino would throw at the O's No. 9 hitter in a tied, must-win game.

Finally, Pearce, for misplaying Slade Heathcott's looper into a fifth-inning RBI double; Chase Headley, who pinch hit for Brendan Ryan in a clutch situation (runners on first and second) and struck out looking to end the sixth; and Rico Noel, who has one job -- steal bases -- but managed to get picked off while running for Alex Rodriguez (pinch-hit single) in the ninth.

Tomorrow: We wrap up the 2015 season with a wow finish, with the Yankees' Michael Pineda (12-9, 4.24) against RHP Chris Tillman (10-11, 5.05). First pitch will be at 3:05 p.m.

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