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Yankees-Orioles Preview

Apr 26, 2010 - 4:34 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (12-6) at Baltimore (3-16), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees are getting excellent results from Phil Hughes.

After flirting with a no-hitter his last time out, Hughes returns to the mound Tuesday night with the Yankees hoping to keep the Baltimore Orioles winless at home.

Hughes (2-0, 2.19 ERA) did not make his 2010 debut until April 15 since New York (12-6) did not need a fifth starter to that point. He turned in a solid five-inning effort to beat the Angels that night and was simply brilliant in his next outing.

The right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning Wednesday in a 3-1 victory at Oakland before Eric Chavez bounced a hard comebacker off the pitcher's forearm and chest for the only hit off Hughes. Chavez scored the lone run against Hughes, who struck out a career-high 10 and retired 20 straight batters before the hit.

"Yeah, frustrated," Hughes said. "It's so hard to do, to throw a no-hitter. You don't get many opportunities to do it."

Hughes will try to reverse his poor history at Camden Yards, where he's 0-2 with a 16.71 ERA in two starts. The Orioles' Nick Markakis (6 for 14), Adam Jones (4 for 8) and Luke Scott (4 for 7) all have given him trouble.

Markakis has eight hits in his last four games to raise his average 60 points to .282, but Jones (.212) and Scott (.207) are still struggling. Those woes are a major reason why Baltimore (3-16) has one of the worst offenses in baseball with 62 runs.

The Orioles have dropped their first six home games for the first time since beginning 0-8 at Memorial Stadium during their record 0-21 start in 1988.

Baltimore, however, avoided a three-game sweep Sunday with a 7-6, 10-inning win at Boston. Rhyne Hughes singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th and Matt Wieters followed with a two-run single for the Orioles, who lost two one-run games to start the series.

"Heartbreak does not do justice to what's gone on here," manager Dave Trembley said. "Guys have come right back the next day and given everything they have."

The series in Boston began a 12-game stretch against the Red Sox and Yankees. Baltimore went 5-13 versus New York in 2009.

"It continues to be challenging, but you always look forward to playing at home," Trembley said. "We need to win at home. We haven't won one yet, so it'd be nice to get that one out of the way on Tuesday."

Kevin Millwood (0-3, 3.38) has pitched fairly well for Baltimore despite losing his last three starts entering his outing Tuesday. Millwood threw a six-hitter for the Orioles' first complete game of the season Wednesday in a 4-1 loss at Seattle.

The veteran right-hander is 2-4 with a 4.86 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez (.429), Nick Swisher (.345) and Derek Jeter (.320) have had success facing Millwood.

New York spent Monday's off day visiting President Obama in a ceremony honoring the reigning World Series champions.

The Yankees lost a series for the first time over the weekend, dropping two of three on the road to the Angels after an 8-4 loss Sunday.