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Mussina tries to solve woes against Orioles

Aug 22, 2008 - 10:23 AM NY Yankees (67-60) at Baltimore (61-65), 7:05 p.m. EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Mike Mussina may be chasing the Cy Young and a chance to send the New York Yankees to the playoffs for the 14th straight year, but he hasn't solved his former team.

The Yankees face the Baltimore Orioles on Friday with their unexpected ace on the hill. If recent history is any indication, Mussina (16-7, 3.35 ERA) has his work cut out.

The 39-year-old has beaten the Orioles once since 2005, and two of his most forgettable performances this season have come against the club that he played on for 10 years.

He matched his shortest career outing in a May 20 loss to the Orioles, failing to make it out of the first inning after giving up seven runs. Less than a month ago, the O's hammered him at Yankee Stadium, again. The righthander gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings of a 13-4 loss.

It's nothing new for Mussina, who is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA against Baltimore over the last three seasons.

Countering for the Orioles is Radhames Liz (4-3, 7.47), making his first big-league start since July 26.

After failing to get to the sixth inning in four consecutive starts in July, Liz was sent to Class AAA Norfolk, but returns to the Baltimore rotation.

The Yankees dropped two of three to the Toronto Blue Jays (66-61) in the first half of their road trip, including a 14-3 hammering on Thursday. The Orioles lost two straight to the Boston Red Sox, before shelling Clay Buchholz in an 11-6 win on Wednesday.