(Reuters) - Mark Reynolds flexed his muscles crushing a pair of home runs as the Baltimore Orioles pounced on the ailing New York Yankees 8-3 on Sunday to close the gap on the American League East leaders.

The visiting Orioles trailed early before Reynolds launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning, to go along with a solo shot in the fifth, to give his team a 5-3 lead and help them take two-of-three games from the Yankees.

Baltimore's (74-59) latest triumph pulled them within two games of New York (76-57).

The Yankees suddenly look vulnerable as they played without Curtis Granderson (hamstring) and are also missing injured power-hitters Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Steve Keating in Toronto)