Orioles 2 - 4 Yankees
Final
  for this game

Yanks, O's wrap up four-game series in Bronx

Jul 31, 2011 - 2:48 PM

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(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles will play the final installment of a four-game series this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

On Saturday, the Yankees took both ends of a day/night doubleheder, topping the Orioles by an 8-3 final in the afternoon contest before crushing Baltimore, 17-3, in the nightcap.

Nick Swisher clubbed a two-run homer and Brett Gardner added a two-run single to elad the way during the first game, while Robinson Cano had a career night and the Yankees scored a franchise-record 12 runs in the first inning, on the way to 24 hits in the evening affair.

In the second game, the Yankees pounded Orioles starter Zach Britton during a 40-minute bottom of the first inning. The 12 runs are the most scored in the first frame for the team and the most in any inning for the Yankees since a 13-run eighth against Tampa Bay on June 21, 2005.

Cano went 5-for-5 with five RBI, including a pair of run-scoring singles in the first inning. Swisher belted a two-run homer to cap the 10-hit frame, which saw 16 men come to the plate.

The beneficiary of the offense was Ivan Nova (9-4), who made his first major league appearance since July 1. The right-hander fanned six batters through seven innings and won his fifth straight decision.

After the contest, the Orioles traded first baseman Derrek Lee to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league first baseman Aaron Baker.

Hoping for more of that run support this afternoon will be the seemingly ageless Freddy Garcia, who gets the ball for the Yankees today. Garcia is one win shy of double digits, and his 3.23 ERA has been a pleasant surprise. He is fresh off a victory over Seattle on Monday, when he allowed three runs over 7 2/3 solid innings.

Garcia didn't figure in the decision in his last start against Baltimore despite six shutout innings. He is 4-7 versus the Orioles in his career with a 4.15 ERA.

Expect to see Jake Arrieta on the hill today for Baltimore, as he will be in search of his 11th victory of the season. Still, the righty hasn't pitched well by most standards, as his 5.12 ERA is far from impressive. On Tuesday, Arrieta picked up a win over Toronto despite allowing four earned runs in five innings.

Arrieta has faced the Yankees twice so far this season and didn't figure in either decision. He is 2-0 lifetime versus New York with a 4.07 ERA.

The Yankees improved to 8-1 against Baltimore this season.






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