Orioles 2 - 3 Yankees
Final
  for this game

Yankees seek revenge on visiting Orioles

Jul 5, 2013 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees may have some revenge on their minds Friday when they return home to face the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series from Yankee Stadium.

It was just last weekend that the Orioles swept the Yankees at Camden Yards, outscoring the defending American League East champs, 19-8. New York, though, rebounded and capped a seven-game road trip by sweeping the Minnesota Twins.

On Thursday, Vernon Wells went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored to help New York complete the sweep with a 9-5 triumph. Ichiro Suzuki finished a homer shy of the cycle and plated a pair of runs to go with two runs scored, while Luis Cruz and Zoilo Almonte added two hits and an RBI apiece for the Yankees, who enter Friday's series a game back of the second-place Orioles in the loss column.

"We're going home for a long stretch, and we're taking some momentum with us," said David Phelps, who picked up the win on Thursday after being shelled by the O's last weekend. "It would've been real easy to take what happened in Baltimore and carry it over here."

New York, which trails division-leading Boston by six games, now heads home for 10 games heading into the All-Star break.

On Friday, New York will pin its hopes on righty Ivan Nova, who gets the start in place of the ailing Hiroki Kuroda.

Nova has only made two starts since April and was used in mop-up duty versus the Orioles on Saturday. He gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings in relief of Phelps. Nova is 2-2 on the year with a 4.63 ERA.

Baltimore, meanwhile, lost two of three to the Chicago White Sox this week and dropped a 3-2 decision in Thursday's rubber match at U.S. Cellular Field.

Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis knocked in a run each for the Orioles, who had won four straight prior to arriving in Chicago's south side.

Hoping to change their fortunes on Friday, the Orioles will turn to righty Miguel Gonzalez, who has won four of his last five starts. Gonzalez beat the Cleveland Indians the last time he pitched back on June 27 and allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to run his record to 6-3 to go along with a 3.77 ERA.

He is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts against the Yankees.

Baltimore has won five in a row from the Yankees and has taken six of the nine matchups this season.






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