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Yankees use homers to take nightcap

Aug 29, 2011 - 4:52 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees turned Camden Yards into a launch pad.

The American League Wild Card leaders belted five home runs, including three in a row during the sixth inning and a pair from Curtis Granderson, to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 8-3, and earn a split of a Sunday's day-night doubleheader.

Granderson drove in four while upping his home run total this season to an MLB-best 38. He also leads the majors with 107 RBI.

"It's incredible what he's done this year," said New York manager Joe Girardi about Granderson. "There's been a lot of talk about MVP and that will all be settled later, but he's been unbelievable for us."

Ivan Nova (14-4), the leader among all rookies in wins, overcame a sluggish start to pitch into the eighth inning for the Yankees. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits through the first three frames. Baltimore mustered only two more hits before Nova departed with two men on base and no outs.

David Robertson relieved Nova and Adam Jones singled to load the bases. But the Yankees reliever struck out Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds and Ryan Adams -- all swinging -- to escape the jam.

New York, which rebounded from a 2-0 loss in the opener, trails Boston by two games in the AL East.

Baltimore starter Brian Matusz (1-7) surrendered six runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"The body of work statistically may not look well, but [Matusz] had some periods where he looked pretty sharp," said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter.

The Orioles pushed across a run in each of the first three innings, with Jones' second sacrifice fly tying the game after Granderson smashed a three- run homer in the top of the third.

Robinson Cano broke the tie in the Yankees' sixth when he followed a one-out single by Mark Teixeira with a two-run blast to left field. Nick Swisher then went deep before Andruw Jones greeted Baltimore's Chris Jakubauskas with a drive over the wall in left-center.

Granderson homered off Mark Hendrickson to give New York a five-run lead in the seventh.

Game Notes

Nova has won 10 straight decisions, tying him with Johnny Allen for the third- longest winning streak by a Yankees rookie pitcher...New York shortstop Derek Jeter was a late scratch for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with a bruised right knee...The loss snapped Baltimore's winning streak at a season- high six games.