• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Abreu keys Yankees' win over Orioles

Jul 29, 2007 - 10:59 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees didn't need Alex Rodriguez to hit his 500th home run on Sunday.

Bobby Abreu's two-run single highlighted a five-run eighth inning as the Yankees rolled past the Baltimore Orioles, 10-6, to end a three-game skid.

Still holding at 499 career home runs, Rodriguez went 0-for-2 with an RBI and three walks. Even without much production from their All-Star third baseman, the Yankees put an end to the Orioles' six-game winning streak.

"When he starts swinging the bat good, it will help us out," Yankees' captain Derek Jeter said of Rodriguez, who left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.

Clinging to a 5-4 lead in the eighth, New York pulled away from the pesky Orioles, who had trailed early, 4-0.

After recording one out, Baltimore reliever Paul Shuey allowed a single to Melky Cabrera and walked Jorge Posada. Johnny Damon's double to right-center scored Cabrera and moved Posada to third. A walk to Derek Jeter loaded the bases and prompted Orioles interim manger Dave Trembley to replace Shuey with Danys Baez.

Abreu worked Baez into full count before lining a two-run single to right field. An RBI groundout by Hideki Matsui and run-scoring double by Robinson Cano capped the outburst.

Though shaky at times, Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang (12-5) earned the win after allowing three runs, nine hits and four walks while striking out one in six innings.

"I think (Wang) was a little frustrated. He was fighting himself all day," said New York manager Joe Torre.

The Yankees struck early against Baltimore stater Daniel Cabrera (7-11), who struggled with his control, walking five in the game. After allowing a run in the first inning, the 6-9 righthander was touched up for three runs in the second.

Back-to-back doubles by Andy Phillips and Melky Cabrera to begin the inning extended New York's lead to 2-0. With the double, Phillips extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.

After Jose Molina sacrificed Melky Cabrera to third, Damon delivered an RBI single, one of his three hits in the win. Daniel Cabrera then walked Jeter and Abreu to load the bases for Rodriguez.

Rodriguez hit a slow grounder to second baseman Brian Roberts, who froze Abreu between first and second base before throwing out Rodriguez. A rundown ensued with Abreu, prompting Jeter to race toward home plate.

Roberts discontinued the rundown with Abreu and threw home to catcher Paul Bako, who applied the tag for the final out of the inning. Rodriguez was credited with an RBI on the play as Damon scored from third on the groundout to make it 4-0.

Rodriguez is 0-for-11 with five strikeouts and six walks since belting his 499th blast on Wednesday at Kansas City.

Daniel Cabrera, who threw 54 pitches in the first two innings, allowed four runs and six hits while striking out five in six innings.

"(Daniel Cabrera) throws 97, 98. He's probably a little more effective when he's wild," Jeter said.

Baltimore loaded the bases against Wang with two outs in the fourth inning and cut the deficit in half on a two-run single by Luis Hernandez. Roberts followed with a long drive to left but Damon made an excellent running catch on the warning track to end the threat.

"I had to go a long way," Damon said. "If I don't come up with it, they score two runs."

Trembley described Damon's grab as the "key to the game."

Roberts hit his eighth home run of the season and had three RBI for the Orioles, who lost on the day former Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. was inducted into the Hall of Fall.

Signs honoring Ripken dotted Camden Yards and the number 2,632 - a reference to Ripken's record consecutive games played streak - was displayed on the B&O Warehouse beyond the right field wall.