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Yankees hand Nova ball in opener with O's

May 14, 2012 - 3:08 PM (Sports Network) - Ivan Nova's first career loss to the Orioles earlier this month was also his first since last June.

The Yankees hurler will look for a bit of revenge this evening when New York visits Baltimore for the first of two straight at Camden Yards.

Nova capped a two-start span in which he allowed 11 runs over 11 2/3 innings with a loss versus the Orioles on May 2. The right-hander gave up five runs over 6 1/3 frames to snap a 15-decision win streak that began after his previous defeat on June 3.

The loss also dropped the 25-year-old to 3-1 with a 3.96 earned run average in six career meetings -- including a win at Baltimore on April 9 -- but he bounced back to beat the Rays on Tuesday. Nova gave up two runs over seven innings, though he did allow a pair of homers for a second straight start. Still, he won a 5-3 decision and matched a season high with eight strikeouts.

New York, which sits third in the American League East, will try to make up some ground on first-place Baltimore after failing to do so on Sunday because of a 6-2 loss to Seattle. The Orioles were bested by the Rays on Sunday, but still hold a one-game lead over Tampa Bay and are 2 1/2 up on the Yankees.

New York dropped a 6-2 decision to Seattle in Andy Pettitte's first start since the 2010 season. The fan-favorite pitched 6 1/3 innings, but was undone by a pair of two-run homers.

"I felt good. I did," said Pettitte. "I didn't really know what to expect. I envisioned what I wanted to feel like out there and I'll tell you, it came back really quick."

Pettitte retired after the 2010 season, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year. The three- time All-Star was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the game.

"He was pretty good," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "You look through the first five innings and he only really gave up one hard-hit ball and got a ton of ground ball outs. He used all his pitches. To get us into the seventh inning, that's pretty good."

Robinson Cano and Russell Martin each had an RBI for the Yankees, who had won three straight and five of six.

Baltimore saw starter Jake Arrieta suffer through a tough outing on Sunday in a 9-8 loss to Tampa Bay. He was charged with seven runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings.

"Jake's capable of better and that's what frustrates him somewhat," said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter.

Still, the Orioles nearly rallied from a 7-1 deficit and saw Nick Markakis double twice in drive in three runs.

Baltimore had won two straight and three of four.

Right-hander Jason Hammel appears ready to go after having his last start skipped due to a sore knee.

"We plan on him pitching Monday," Showalter told Baltimore's website. "I saw him today, he came in, he had a smile on his face, got his normal stuff done. So the plan is for him to pitch tomorrow."

Hammel was been Baltimore's best pitcher so far this season, going 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA in six starts. However, that lone loss did come at the Yankees on April 30 even though he allowed just two runs over six frames. He got little support in a 2-1 setback in his 12th career appearance versus New York.

Hammel holds a lifetime ERA of 6.69 in this series and is 1-3 with a 5.87 ERA in six starts versus New York.

The 29-year-old did bounce back with a win in his last appearance on May 5, picking up the victory at Boston after allowing two runs over 6 2/3 frames with eight strikeouts.

Hammel has won both of his home starts this season with a 0.60 ERA.

The Yankees swept a three-game series at Camden Yards from April 9-11 and have won 25 of their last 34 games in Baltimore. They have won four of the six encounters overall this season.