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Yankees-Orioles Preview

Jun 8, 2010 - 7:21 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

New York (35-22) at Baltimore (16-41), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees were held in check for much of their series against an AL East rival this past weekend. That hasn't been the case against the Baltimore Orioles this year.

Led by Robinson Cano and Phil Hughes, the Yankees look to continue their dominance over the major-league worst Orioles on Tuesday night.

New York (35-22), which opens a three-game set at Camden Yards trailing AL East-leading Tampa Bay by two games, had won five straight before dropping two of three at Toronto.

After plating three runs over the first 30 innings of the series, the Yankees avoided the sweep with a 4-3 win Sunday. Cano hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth, and Javier Vazquez's only hit allowed over seven innings was a two-run homer.

"There's frustration in not scoring runs. For them to get it up and win this game - big win," manager Joe Girardi told the Yankees' official website. Girardi was ejected in the eighth for arguing.

New York came in having scored 36 runs while batting .352 during its five-game run. That included a sweep of the Orioles last week at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees have won eight straight against Baltimore and outscored them 49-20 in nine games this year.

Cano, batting a team-best .363 on the season, is hitting .444 (16 for 36) with four homers and six RBIs versus the Orioles in 2010.

Hughes (7-1, 2.54 ERA), who will try to break a tie with Andy Pettitte for the team lead in wins, is slated to make his third start of the season against Baltimore. The right-hander gave up one run and struck out seven in seven innings of a 9-1 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

"He's been so, so good for us. He's doing so many things right," Girardi said.

In his other appearance against the Orioles, Hughes didn't get a decision after yielding one run and two hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss on April 27.

Baltimore (16-41) gave interim manager Juan Samuel his first win Sunday, halting a 10-game slide by defeating Boston 4-3 as Nick Markakis singled home the winning run in the 11th inning.

"Obviously, we've had it rough the 10 games," said Markakis, who had been hitless in his previous 14 at-bats. "We've had some battles, we were in games and lost them. We didn't let this one get away."

Looking to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game run from May 12-14, Baltimore sends veteran Kevin Millwood (0-6, 4.29) to the mound.

The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Yankees on Thursday. Millwood walked four and surrendered two home runs for the second straight game.

He is 2-5 with a 5.15 ERA in 11 career starts versus New York.

Alex Rodriguez left Sunday's game in the ninth with groin tightness, but expects to play Tuesday. He has batted .370 with two home runs in his career against Millwood.