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Yankees build up early lead, hold off Orioles

Apr 14, 2011 - 2:42 AM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Alex Rodriguez smacked a three-run homer and Robinson Cano hit a two-run double, helping the Yankees earn a 7-4 victory over the Orioles in the start of an abbreviated series.

New York scored six runs off Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (0-1) in the first two innings, then held on to win.

Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (3-0) got through six innings without incident, but gave up two-run shots to Matt Wieters and Brian Roberts with one away in the seventh before being pulled. He allowed seven total hits, walked two and struck out five.

Tillman lasted only 1 2/3 frames for the Orioles, who have dropped three in a row.

The series was supposed to get underway Tuesday, but that contest was rained out.

Rodriguez missed Sunday's game against Boston with flu-like symptoms, but returned to the lineup Wednesday and stepped to the plate in the first inning with an opportunity to do some damage.

The third baseman didn't waste it, taking a pitch that Tillman left over the plate over the wall in right field. The homer gave New York an instant 3-0 lead and tied Rodriguez with Ted Williams for 13th place all-time with 1,839 runs batted in. It was also Rodriguez's 617th career homer.

Tillman got into more trouble in the second, when Russell Martin doubled with one out and moved to third on Brett Gardner's groundout. Derek Jeter then chopped a ball directly into the ground, and it bounced nearly halfway down the third base line.

Tillman couldn't make a throw on the play, allowing Martin to race home and Jeter to reach safely.

After a single by Mark Teixeira and a walk to Rodriguez loaded the bases, Cano dumped a hit into left field, plating two to make it a 6-0 game. Tillman was then pulled for Chris Jakubauskas, who got Baltimore out of the inning.

But the damage was done, and Jorge Posada added a solo homer in the fifth to push the Yankees' lead to seven.

The homers by Wieters and Roberts got Baltimore back in the game, but David Robertson came in to record the final two outs of the seventh.

Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless eighth for New York, and Mariano Rivera worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.

Game Notes

The Yankees won 13 of their 18 games vs. Baltimore last season...New York will go for the series sweep Thursday with Phil Hughes on the mound against Jake Arrieta. It has not won consecutive games since the first two contests of 2011...The Orioles placed shortstop J.J. Hardy on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left oblique. Robert Andino played at short Wednesday and went 0-for-3 with a walk while batting ninth.