Yankees 6 - 4 Orioles
Final/10
  for this game

Arrieta aims to salvage Orioles' finale with Yankees

Apr 11, 2012 - 2:39 PM

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(Sports Network) - Jake Arrieta tries to follow up a brilliant Opening Day start when the Baltimore Orioles aim to salvage the finale of their three-game set against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards.

Arrieta was terrific in beating the Minnesota Twins on Friday, as he scattered two hits over seven scoreless innings. He also struck out four and walked a pair in the win, while making a few terrific plays defensively on the mound.

"He was really good," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of his starter. "I thought he kept his emotions under control and trusted his fastball, which is still the best pitch in the game."

The 26-year-old right-hander, who underwent elbow surgery last season to remove bone spurs, has faced the Yankees five times and is 2-1 against them with a 3.99 earned run average.

New York, meanwhile, will counter with their ace left-hander CC Sabathia, who wasn't nearly as sharp as Arrieta on Opening Day. The big hurler was hit hard by the Tampa Bay Rays, surrendering five runs and eight hits in only six innings. He also fanned seven batters and was still in line for the win only to see normally-reliable closer Mariano Rivera blow a save.

"[The problem was] fastball command," Sabathia said after that start. "But it got better later, so I can take something from that and work in the bullpen and be ready to go four days from now."

Sabathia could get into the win column this evening, as he has dominated the Orioles over the course of his career, going 16-2 lifetime against them with a 2.74 ERA in 22 starts.

After being swept by Tampa Bay over the weekend the Yankees have rebounded to win the first two games of this set, but needed extra innings to do so on Tuesday, as Raul Ibanez's ground-rule double in the 12th inning scored the go- ahead run in New York's 5-4 victory.

Ibanez, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, bounced a 1-2 pitch from Pedro Strop (0-1) over the right field wall to score Robinson Cano, who had led off the inning with a first-pitch double.

"Definitely feels great, any time you can help out the club," Ibanez said.

Derek Jeter hit a leadoff homer in this one and the Yankees overcame a sloppy start by Freddy Garcia, who threw five wild pitches in 4 2/3 innings.

Former Oriole Clay Rapada (1-0) retired two batters in the 11th to get the win and Mariano Rivera threw a perfect 12th to get his first save after blowing his first opportunity of the season.

Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen gave up Jeter's leadoff homer -- the first batter he faced in a regular season MLB game -- but settled down until he was knocked out during New York's three-run sixth inning to tie the game.

The 26-year-old left-hander from Taiwan struck out six and allowed four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and a walk in 5 2/3 frames.

"He pitched well especially after the way he started. I hope that bodes well for him," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "They're a potent lineup, but he handled himself well."

The Yankees have posted a 13-5 record against the Orioles in each of the past three seasons.






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