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Orioles still seeking first win of season

Apr 6, 2007 - 2:42 PM Baltimore (0-3) at NY Yankees (1-1) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles hope to avoid their worst start to a season since 1988. A game against the New York Yankees does not appear to be the solution.

Baltimore is hoping to avoid its first 0-4 start since beginning the 1988 season with a major league-record 21-game losing streak. It is already the Orioles' worst three-game start since dropping three in a row to start the 1995 campaign.

Young lefthander Adam Loewen will look to turn that around when he faces New York righthander Mike Mussina.

The Yankees are 50-25 against Baltimore since the start of the 2003 season. In those contests, the Yankees have typically feasted on the Orioles' shaky pitching staff.

It could be more of the same on Friday as Baltimore's starters allowed 13 runs and 11 walks in 14 innings in its three losses at Minnesota. In the series finale, former Yankee Jaret Wright lasted just 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs, four hits and five walks.

New York suffered a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay in Andy Pettitte's return on Thursday. The lefthander gave up four runs - two earned - and six hits with three walks and two strikeouts but did not figure in the decision.

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez had the opportunity to deliver with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but popped out to second to end the threat. Rodriguez finished 1-for-5 with six runners left on base.