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Orioles defeat Yankees 5-4 for first home win

Apr 28, 2010 - 3:49 AM By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE(AP) -- There haven't been too many victories for the Orioles to savor this season, so manager Dave Trembley didn't know where to start after Baltimore became the last team in the majors to win at home this season.

"There are a lot of things to talk about," Trembley said. "It was a night of firsts."

Not only was Baltimore's 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night their first at home, but it also provided the Orioles with their first winning streak of the season.

It didn't come easy.

Alfredo Simon recorded the first save of his major league career after the Yankees scored two unearned runs in the ninth and got the potential tying run to third base.

"After all the other stuff we've gone through the previous 19 games, the ninth inning tonight was a piece of cake," Trembley said with a wry grin.

Cesar Izturis had three RBIs for the Orioles (4-16), who finally have two straight wins after beating Boston on Sunday. Baltimore has played in 12 games decided by two runs or fewer, and has won only three of them.

But maybe this one, over the defending World Series champions, indicates better times ahead.

"I think we swung the bats well in Boston and we started out this homestand swinging the bats well," starting pitcher Kevin Millwood said. "I think we're all excited to see how this thing turns around a little bit."

Baltimore was 0-6 at Camden Yards before holding off New York in front of a crowd of 20,536 on a chilly night.

"Hopefully we can rattle off a bunch of wins and start packing this building," infielder Ty Wigginton said. "When you're playing well and the fans are coming out, it's fun."

Jorge Posada homered, and Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher each had three hits for the Yankees, who have lost four of five after an 11-3 start.

New York closed to 5-4 in the ninth after Izturis misplayed a two-out grounder to shortstop, but Alex Rodriguez grounded into a fielder's choice with runners at the corners to end the game.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes allowed one run and two hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander issued three of his four walks in the first two innings, which elevated his pitch count and led to an early departure.

"It was a struggle, for sure. I didn't have my best stuff," he said. "Command was pretty bad early. I tried to battle and do the best I could."

As soon as he left, the New York bullpen gave up the lead. Boone Logan walked Luke Scott and was replaced by David Robertson (0-1), who hit Wigginton with a pitch and gave up successive two-out RBI singles to Rhyne Hughes, Nolan Reimold and Izturis.

Baltimore came into the game batting .108 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

"It's pretty frustrating," Robertson said. "Hughes battled his butt off out there and gave us a chance. (Then) I come in and let it snowball. I got ahead OK a couple of times, but when I had the opportunity to get someone out I just didn't make the pitch."

Izturis singled in an unearned run in the ninth after an error by shortstop Derek Jeter.

Alberto Castillo (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings of one-hit relief, Jim Johnson worked the eighth and Simon got three outs in his first appearance in the big leagues since undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery last May.

"I am very happy they gave me an opportunity to close the game," Simon said.

Baltimore went up 1-0 in the second inning when Phil Hughes gave up two straight singles, then issued consecutive walks to Reimold and Izturis to force in a run. Hughes avoided further damage by getting Adam Jones to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

A run-scoring grounder by Brett Gardner tied it in the third, and a big inning loomed when Mark Teixeira walked to load the bases with one out. But Rodriguez lined out to third and Cano hit a fly ball to right.

Posada led off the fourth with his fifth homer, his second in two games. The drive ended a 2-for-17 slump.

NOTES: Randy Winn got his first hit with New York, but made a poor throw from right on Hughes' single in the sixth. ... Orioles RHP Koji Uehara (hamstring) pitched a scoreless inning for Double-A Bowie in a rehabilitation assignment Tuesday night. ... The Orioles summoned Simon from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Kam Mickolio to the same club.