• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Surging Yankees shoot for sweep of Orioles

Sep 19, 2007 - 2:42 PM Baltimore (64-86) at NY Yankees (87-64) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Robinson Cano and the New York Yankees have played their way back into contention for the American League East Division, much to the displeasure of the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees look to apply some more pressure on the first-place Red Sox when they host the struggling Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday.

New York, which owned a 21-29 record on May 30, has won 11 of its last 13 contests to climb within 2 1/2 games of rival Boston in the AL East. The Yankees enter Wednesday with their smallest division deficit since before play on April 21.

Cano has been a major factor in the Yankees' revival, batting .338 with 15 homers and 54 RBI over his last 54 games. The 24-year-old second baseman had three hits - including a double - and two RBI in Tuesday's 12-0 triumph.

New York has a good chance of narrowing Boston's lead even further on Wednesday when Andy Pettitte (13-8, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound.

Pettitte, who was named AL Pitcher of the Month in August after going a perfect 6-0, has struggled in September, posting a 1-1 record in three starts.

During his last outing, Pettitte was roughed up by the Red Sox, allowing five runs - four earned - and nine hits over just four innings.

The 35-year-old lefthander did not factor in the decision, however, as the Yankees rallied for six runs in the eighth inning to overcome a five-run deficit in Friday's 8-7 victory.

The Orioles counter with Brian Burres (6-5, 5.47), who won his first game since July 28 during his last start. Burres scattered eight hits over seven shutout innings en route to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.