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Orioles-Yankees Preview

May 21, 2009 - 4:46 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (16-23) at New York (22-17), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees have been hitting home runs all season. Lately, the long ball is helping them win on a more consistent basis.

Making the most of their new homer-friendly ballpark, the Yankees look to extend their season-high winning streak to nine games and complete a three-game sweep of the last-place Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

While Alex Rodriguez failed to homer for the first time in five games, New York got consecutive shots from Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera in Wednesday's 11-4 win.

The Yankees (23-17) lead the majors with 64 home runs, and have hit 16 during their winning streak. New York, which has outscored its opponents 52-25 during the run, last won nine in a row from June 5-14, 2007.

"It's been a great run for us," said Swisher, who hit his ninth homer, but first at home.

New York will try for a fourth straight victory overall against the Orioles (16-24), and seventh in a row versus them in the Bronx.

On Wednesday, the teams combined for six homers, bringing the total to a staggering 71 through 19 games at the $1.5 billion stadium.

Cano had three hits with three RBIs, and Cabrera added two with two RBIs to raise his average to .321. Cano is 13 for 30 (.433) with three homers and seven RBIs against the Orioles this season.

While the Yankees' lineup continues to produce, their pitching staff has done likewise by posting a 2.88 ERA during the winning stretch.

Joba Chamberlain (2-1, 3.76 ERA) tries for a fourth time to earn his first victory this season at home, where he has a 6.06 ERA.

It's also Chamberlain's first start against the Orioles since Aubrey Huff mocked him with two exaggerated fist pumps following a three-run homer off the right-hander in the Yankees' 5-3 road win on May 10.

"Still haven't seen it. It really doesn't matter to me, either," said Chamberlain, who reacted with his customary fist pump and a scream after striking out Huff in a game two seasons ago.

Neither expect there to be any ramifications of the latest incident that Huff deemed a joke on his part.

"I would certainly hope it's put to bed," said Huff, who's 0 for 8 in the series and 2 for 10 lifetime versus Chamberlain.

Chamberlain allowed two runs and three hits, while striking out six and walking four in six innings of a 6-4, 11-inning win over Minnesota on Saturday. He gave up three runs in six innings versus the Orioles earlier this month, and is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA as a starter against them in his career.

Adam Jones hit his ninth homer Wednesday for the Orioles, who have lost three in a row after a 2-1 start to their 10-game road trip.

Hitting .370 overall, Jones is 13 for 28 (.464) with four homers and eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak. He is batting .419 (13 for 31) with two home runs and six RBIs against the Yankees in 2009.

Adam Eaton (2-4, 7.93) hopes to bounce back from his worst outing of the season for the Orioles, whose pitching staff has a 7.20 ERA on the road trip He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in five innings of an 8-1 loss at Kansas City on Friday.

The right-hander gave up four runs in five innings of a 12-5 victory over the Yankees on May 9. He is 2-1 with a 5.17 ERA all-time versus New York.