BALTIMORE -- This was billed as a measuring stick series for the Yankees, presenting their first opportunity to gauge how they would fare against the defending American League East champions. They left town recognizing that -- at least for the moment ¨C they look a bit short.

Carlos Rod¨®n permitted seven runs (six earned) over four-plus innings, hurt by three solo home runs and a costly Gleyber Torres error, as the Yankees fell to the Orioles, 7-2, on Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards.

¡°We have to get better,¡± Torres said. ¡°First series, we got punched in the face. We¡¯ve got three more, so we have to figure out a way to beat them.¡±

The Yankees scored just six runs in the four-game series, with Baltimore winning three contests to return to first place in the division.

Aaron Judge¡¯s struggles continued in a hitless performance on Thursday, with the captain going 1-for-13 against one of his favorite offensive backdrops. In Judge¡¯s final at-bat of the afternoon, he struck out swinging at a 93.5 mph fastball down the middle.

¡°Right now, when I¡¯m getting that pitch to hit, I¡¯m just missing it or hitting it right into the ground,¡± said Judge, whose batting average fell to .197. ¡°I¡¯m going to make a couple of adjustments and we¡¯ll be right there.¡±

Though Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he sees Judge is ¡°grinding¡± at the plate, he is not ready to discuss moving Judge from the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

¡°Somebody¡¯s going to pay, big time,¡± Boone said. ¡°He¡¯ll get it going, and look out when he does.¡±

Ryan Mountcastle, Jorge Mateo and Ryan McKenna went deep off Rod¨®n, who allowed eight hits and struck out six without a walk, tossing a pair of wild pitches. The uneven effort raised Rod¨®n¡¯s season ERA more than a run, from 2.48 to 3.68.

¡°I thought the first three games were close games,¡± Rod¨®n said. ¡°That¡¯s a good team, and I thought we played pretty well. We¡¯ve got to figure out how to scratch another [win] there. I wanted to leave here with an even series. I wish I would have performed better, for sure.¡±

Rod¨®n had an electric second inning, extinguishing trouble after loading the bases on two hits and a hit-by-pitch. He reached back for a 98.3 mph fastball to strike out Colton Cowser, then fanned James McCann and got McKenna to line out to left field.

But the long ball got Rod¨®n in the next two innings, and the O¡¯s scored four runs (three earned) in the fifth, when Rod¨®n could not retire a batter. After two hits began the frame, Rod¨®n induced a grounder that shortstop Anthony Volpe flipped to Torres at second base.

Torres attempted a barehand play, dropping the ball for an error. Jordan Westburg followed with a two-run triple that chased Rod¨®n.

¡°Volpe made a really good play. I just tried to rush to try and get a double play and help Rod¨®n in that situation,¡± Torres said. ¡°But I forgot who was the runner and I missed the ball. In that type of situation, I have to be more sure and try to get one out.¡±

Said Boone: ¡°You¡¯ve got to secure the ball. This is the big leagues. You¡¯ve got to make the play, and he didn¡¯t make the play.¡±

Anthony Rizzo had a run-scoring single off Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish, who permitted one run over 4 2/3 innings in his season debut, having opened the year on the injured list with a right UCL sprain. Torres hit his first homer of the season in the sixth.

¡°I didn¡¯t think that was going to be the way I hit my first homer of the year, especially after that error,¡± Torres said. ¡°I¡¯ve been working in the cage, trying to get better results and fix those little things.¡±

Both bullpens were excellent in the series; Yankees relievers did not permit an earned run across 10 innings.

"With [Clay] Holmes at the end, that's going to be a really, really tough team to beat all year,¡± said O¡¯s manager Brandon Hyde.

There could be more tight battles to come between the clubs, who are scheduled to meet again June 18-20 at Yankee Stadium.

¡°They can pitch, they¡¯re athletic, they¡¯ve got thump,¡± Boone said. ¡°They¡¯re a complete team that you know you¡¯ve got to play well, and know they¡¯re going to be there all year long. We look forward to more battles with them. They¡¯re certainly formidable.¡±