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Burres, Johnson help Orioles blank Yankees

Apr 20, 2008 - 3:29 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Brian Burres and Jim Johnson combined to pitch nine scoreless innings as the Baltimore Orioles cruised to a 6-0 triumph over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Ramon Hernandez and Aubrey Huff drove in two runs apiece and Kevin Millar blasted a solo home run for the Orioles, who have won three straight contests and will seek a three-game sweep of the Yankees on Sunday.

Burres (2-1) worked out of jams throughout the night. He left Derek Jeter stranded at third in the first and induced Jose Molina to ground into an inning-ending double play in the second.

"I did manage to get into some trouble, but I was able to get out of it," Burres said. "Just have to fight to get it back when you are in those tight situations."

The third-year lefthander allowed five hits and four walks with two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.

"I saw a lot of improvement in Burres tonight," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "His poise was improved and he showed some more arm angles."

The Yankees had runners in scoring position in each of the first three frames. After Matsui reached on an infield single in the sixth, Burres was relieved and Johnson was just as impressive - if not more so.

The 24-year-old reliever yielded just one hit with no walks and one strikeout over 3 1/3 frames, completing the shutout and registering his first career save.

"I think it's a confidence-builder for us as a team," Johnson said. "We have to play these guys, how many times? To play these guys tough early on, is a good sign for the rest of the season."

"(Johnson's) the most improved guy out there," Trembley said. "He has been very special for our team. He has come up with movement on his fastball, has very good poise and fields his position. He's been tremendous for us."

New York rookie starter Ian Kennedy (0-2) surrendered four runs and five hits and five walks with four strikeouts over just 2 2/3 innings.

"He can't pitch that way. He needs to attack the zone," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's not agressive enough. We need to get him back to where he was last year."

Brandon Fahey opened the scoring with an RBI double in the second and the Orioles broke the game open in the third frame with Kevin Millar's solo shot and Hernandez's two-run double, which chased Kennedy from the contest and gave Baltimore a 4-0 lead.

"I was just trying to get good pitches, good counts," Hernandez said. "Just trying to hit the ball hard, man. That's all I'm trying to do."

"Hernandez let the ball get deep tonight," Trembley added. "He didn't over-swing and got the key hit in the game."

Huff added a two-run double in the seventh to provide the final margin.

"They (Orioles) are playing good fundamental baseball," Girardi said. "They're throwing strikes, getting hits with runners in scoring position, they're not making errors, not walking batters - just playing the right way."