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Jeter, Yankees looking to continue winning ways

Sep 17, 2007 - 2:22 PM Baltimore (64-84) at NY Yankees (85-64) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees made a statement against the Boston Red Sox. Now they will have to take care of business against some lesser foes.

Jeter and the red-hot Yankees look to keep rolling Monday when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series.

Despite trailing Boston (90-60) in the American League East Division throughout the season, New York won nine of the final 12 meetings with its rival this season - including Sunday's dramatic 4-3 victory.

Jeter blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning Sunday, lifting the Yankees to their ninth win in their last 11 games. With the victory, New York pulled within 4 1/2 games of Boston in the AL East and also maintained a 2 1/2-game cushion over the Detroit Tigers (83-67) in the wild card race.

With just two weeks remaining this season, the Yankees will play their final 13 games against the Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays - all of whom own losing records.

On Monday, New York gives the ball to rookie Phil Hughes (3-3, 4.91 ERA), who will look to win back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. The righthander hurled six frames, yielding just one run and three hits in Tuesday's 11-2 triumph over the Blue Jays.

The Orioles, who have won three of their last four contests, will send righthander Daniel Cabrera (9-16, 5.37) to the mound.

Cabrera is tied for the major-league lead in losses and is currently appealing a six-game suspension for throwing at Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia on September 7.