The tension was thick enough to cut with a dull steak knife when the Baltimore Orioles rolled into the Bronx for that final regular-season tilt. If you were looking for the new york yankees baltimore orioles score on September 28, 2025, you saw a tight 3-2 victory for the Pinstripes. But the box score rarely tells the whole story, does it?
It was a weird afternoon in New York. The Yankees were desperately clawing at Toronto’s heels for the AL East crown, while the Orioles—honestly, they were just trying to spoil the party after a season that kinda slid sideways on them. Baltimore finished 75-87, a tough pill to swallow for a team that had such high hopes in April. Meanwhile, the Yankees were riding an eight-game winning streak that felt like a freight train with no brakes.
Breaking Down the New York Yankees Baltimore Orioles Score
That 3-2 finale wasn't just another game. It was the exclamation point on a sweep. The Yankees took all three games at Yankee Stadium to close out the year: 8-4 on Friday, a clinical 6-1 on Saturday, and then the Sunday nail-biter.
Ben Rice, who’s been such a bright spot for the Yanks, had himself a day. The kid just seems to find holes in the shift. On the other side, the Orioles' bats went cold when it mattered most. Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson tried to spark something, but David Bednar slammed the door shut in the ninth. It was a classic "bend but don't break" performance from the New York bullpen.
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Why the 2025 Matchup Felt Different
Earlier in the year, this rivalry felt more balanced. Remember that June series? The Orioles actually stole one 5-3 in the Bronx. But by September, the momentum had shifted entirely.
- Max Fried’s Masterclass: You can’t talk about this season's matchups without mentioning Max Fried. On September 18, he absolutely dismantled the O's, striking out 13 batters over seven innings. It was a 7-0 blowout that basically signaled the end of any remaining Baltimore postseason dreams.
- The Bullpen Tax: Baltimore used a record-tying 70 players this season. That’s not a typo. 70. You can't find consistency when your roster is a revolving door of "who's that guy?"
- The Home Run Race: While Aaron Judge was doing Judge things (finishing with 104 RBIs), the Orioles relied heavily on Ryan Mountcastle and Samuel Basallo. Basallo is going to be a stud, but he was still finding his footing in those high-pressure September moments.
The September Surge
If you look at the standings, the Yankees and Blue Jays actually finished with identical 94-68 records. That’s why that final new york yankees baltimore orioles score mattered so much. Every run felt like it was being weighed on a gold scale. New York went 17-7 down the stretch. They were playing playoff baseball three weeks before the playoffs actually started.
Baltimore, conversely, hit a wall. They went 3-7 in their last ten. It’s a young team, and sometimes the 162-game grind just eats you alive. They’re "going home angry," as some of the beat writers put it, which is probably a good thing for their 2026 motivation.
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Looking Ahead: Spring Training 2026
We don't have to wait long to see these two go at it again. They’re scheduled to meet in Sarasota at Ed Smith Stadium on February 20, 2026. Sure, it’s Spring Training. The scores don't "count," but try telling that to the guys fighting for the 26th spot on the roster.
If you're betting on the next chapter of this rivalry, keep an eye on Trevor Rogers. He was one of the few bright spots for the O's in late September, posting a 1.35 ERA over his final few starts. If he carries that into 2026, the Yankees won't have such an easy time sweeping the season series next time around.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the Yankees-Orioles rivalry, here’s what you should do to stay ahead of the curve:
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- Watch the Pitch Count: In their last five meetings, the Yankees' starters averaged 15% more first-pitch strikes than Baltimore’s. That’s the game right there.
- Check the Lineups Early: Baltimore is likely to keep shuffling their infield. Follow the Triple-A Norfolk roster moves; that’s where their next wave of spoilers is coming from.
- Monitor the AL East Tiebreakers: With the 2025 season ending in a dead heat between NY and Toronto, intradivisional games are more valuable than ever.
The 3-2 victory in September might look small on paper, but it was the culmination of a month where the Yankees proved they were the big brothers of the division again. Baltimore has the talent, but as the final scores showed, the Yankees still have the poise.
Stay on top of the Spring Training rosters as we head into February. The pitching matchups for the Sarasota opener will give us the first real look at how Baltimore plans to fix their late-season collapse. Regardless of the outcome, this AL East rivalry is easily the most entertaining 19 games on the calendar.