BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge hit a tying home run, Starlin Castro’s RBI single keyed a four-run ninth inning, and the New York Yankees rallied to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 Sunday and avert a three-game sweep.

It was the first loss of the season for the Orioles, who started the day as the only unbeaten team in the majors at 4-0. After pulling off comeback victories in the first two games of the series, Baltimore blew a three-run lead in the finale.

New York avoided its first 1-5 start since 1989.

Ronald Torreyes cut the gap to 3-2 with a two-out, two-run triple in the sixth, Judge homered in the eighth and the Yankees completed the turnaround against Darren O’Day (0-1) in the ninth.

Matt Holliday drew his career-high fifth walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Jacoby Ellsbury, who stole second. After Chris Carter walked, Castro bounced a single up the middle. Judge added a run-scoring groundout, Austin Romine hit a sacrifice fly and the final run scored on a throwing error by second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

Dellin Betances (1-1), who took the loss Saturday, struck out two in a perfect eighth.

CC Sabathia gave up three runs – two earned – six hits and four walks over six innings for New York.

Orioles starter Wade Miley walked seven, struck out five and allowed only one hit over five scoreless innings. He left a 3-0 lead, but the bullpen gave it away.

Baltimore went up 2-0 in the second inning, taking advantage of two walks and getting RBIs from Trey Mancini and J.J. Hardy.

Mark Trumbo singled in an unearned run in the fifth.

LONG-AWAITED CALL

Yankees prospect Kyle Higashioka, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008, finally got his call-up to the majors when Catcher Gary Sanchez was placed on the 10-day DL on Saturday.

“He was at dinner when he got the call and said he couldn’t even eat his dinner,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I think he left it there. Hopefully, he caught up at some point with his eating habits.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 1B Greg Bird said his bruised foot felt good, but he was experiencing flu-like symptoms and did not play Sunday. Girardi did not rule out Bird playing in Monday’s home opener against Tampa Bay. … Girardi said Sanchez (right biceps strain) was feeling slightly better and will undergo tests on Monday in New York.

Orioles: Miley (respiratory infection) was activated from the disabled list and OF Joey Rickard was placed on the 10-day DL with a sprained left middle finger. The injury occurred Saturday when Rickard slid into 2B on an attempted steal.

UP NEXT

Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda will start against the Rays in an afternoon matchup Monday that launches the Yankees’ home schedule.

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