Yankees 15 - 3 Orioles
Final
  for this game

CC tries again for first win as Yanks battle O's

Apr 23, 2011 - 3:29 PM

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(Sports Network) - CC Sabathia and the Yankees had to wait an extra day to play at Camden Yards, but tonight the burly left-hander gets an opportunity to continue his domination of the Baltimore Orioles.

Rain postponed Friday's contest, meaning this will be a two-game series.

Sabathia goes after his first win of the season this evening. He gave up three runs through his first three starts, but was banged around by the Texas Rangers on Sunday for four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 frames. He did not get a decision in his team's 6-5 win that night, but saw his ERA jump from 1.45 to 2.52.

"We won the game and that's all you can ask for," said Sabathia. "This is a team game."

The four winless starts to open the year is the longest drought to start a season for the former American League Cy Young Award winner since he was winless through his first six outings for Cleveland in 2003.

Sabathia, though, should have no problem getting off the schneid tonight, as the big left-hander has owned the Orioles over the course of his career, going 14-2 against them with a 2.86 ERA in 20 starts. He is also a tremendous 8-1 lifetime at Camden Yards and has won his last five starts against the O's.

The Yankees enter tonight's tilt atop the American League East standings after taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays. New York has won four of its last five and is the only team in the majors to yet lose back-to-back games this season.

A big reason behind the Yanks' recent success has been the play of center fielder Curtis Granderson, who has homered in each of his last three games. Granderson has six home runs on the year and is 10-for-23 with four homers, six RBI and seven runs scored over his last six games.

"I think what you're seeing is more consistent contact and hitting the ball harder from him," Yankee manager Joe Girardi said.

Baltimore, meanwhile, comes into this series having dropped nine of 11, but did take two of three from the Minnesota Twins before losing Thursday's series finale, 3-1, to earn a split in the four-game set.

Jeremy Guthrie (1-3) took the loss, going seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four.

"He's turned the corner, he's in real good shape," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Guthrie. "He gave us a real good chance to win and deserved a better fate.

Getting the call for the O's this evening will be right-hander Brad Bergesen, who is 0-2 on the year with a 3.38 ERA. Bergesen was charged with the loss on Sunday in Cleveland, but pitched well, as he allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in five innings.

Bergesen is 0-2 lifetime against the Yankees with a 5.82 ERA in four games (three starts).

The Yankees swept a rain-abbreviated two-game set from Baltimore last week and are 28-10 against the O's since the start of the 2009 campaign.






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