MLB

Yankees lay huge egg before showdown with Orioles

So much for the showdown in Baltimore.

The Yankees staggered through a second straight game against the Indians, losing 4-1 on Sunday in The Bronx and didn’t show any reason to believe they’re ready to make a run at the AL East lead when they open a series at Camden Yards on Monday night.

After being shut down by talented right-hander Corey Kluber on Saturday, the Yankees were just as unproductive against Carlos Carrasco, a pitcher relegated to Cleveland’s bullpen since April, but who held the Yankees scoreless in his five innings of work. At one point, Cleveland pitching retired 15 straight.

The Yankees got only two runners into scoring position before Jacoby Ellsbury prevented a second straight shutout with his homer in the ninth.

And Hiroki Kuroda didn’t help the Yankees cause. He has held up well this season after an ugly finish to 2013, but he was ineffective throughout Sunday’s 97-pitch performance.

Kuroda couldn’t get out of the fifth inning and surrendered three runs. He walked a season-high four in the brief outing.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first. Jason Kipnis hit a leadoff single and moved to second on Jose Ramirez’s groundout. Kipnis advanced to third on a wild pitch by Kuroda and scored on Michael Brantley’s single to left.

Mark Teixeira was robbed of a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first when Kipnis, playing second, caught a liner in short right field thanks to the shift.

Kipnis helped Cleveland add another run in the third, leading off with a double. Ramirez bunted him to third and then Kipnis scored on Brantley’s sacrifice fly to right.

Kuroda’s day ended with a bases-loaded walk to Yan Gomes.

So after going seven games over .500 for the first time all year with Friday’s victory, the Yankees responded with a pair of listless losses.