Yankees-Orioles Preview
Baltimore, MD – The New York Yankees were held in check for much their series against one AL East rival this past weekend.
That hasn’t been the case against the Baltimore Orioles this year.
Led by Robinson Cano and Phil Hughes, the Yankees on Tuesday night look to continue their dominance over the major-league worst Orioles.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Yankees –220 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Orioles. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 96% of more than 226 bets for this game have been placed on the Yankees -220.
New York (35-22), which opens a three-game set at Camden Yards two games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay, had won five straight before dropping two of three at Toronto including a 14-inning loss Saturday.
After plating three runs over the first 30 innings of the series, the Yankees avoided the sweep with a 4-3 win Sunday. Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth, and Javier Vazquez’s only hit allowed over seven innings was a two-run homer.
"There’s frustration in not scoring runs. For them to get it up and win this game – big win," manager Joe Girardi told the Yankees’ official website. Girardi was ejected in the eighth for arguing.
New York came in having scored 36 runs while batting .352 during its five-game run. That included a sweep of the Orioles last week at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees have won eight straight from the Orioles, and have outscored them 49-20 in nine games this year.
Cano, who is batting .363 and leading the club in virtually all offensive categories, is hitting .444 (16 for 36) with four homers and six RBIs against the Orioles in 2010.
Hughes (7-1, 2.54 ERA), who will try to break a tie with Andy Pettitte for the team lead in wins, is slated to make his third start of the season versus Baltimore. The right-hander gave up one run, six hits and struck out seven in seven innings of a 9-1 rout of the Orioles on Wednesday.
"He’s been so, so good for us. He’s doing so many things right,” Girardi said.
In his other appearance against the Orioles, Hughes didn’t get a decision after yielding one run and two hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss on April 27.
Baltimore (16-41) will try to snap its losing streak against the Yankees after giving interim manager Juan Samuel his first win on Sunday. The Orioles halted a 10-game slide by defeating Boston 4-3 as Nick Markakis singled home the winning run in the 11th inning.
"Obviously, we’ve had it rough the 10 games," said Markakis, who had been hitless in his previous 14 at-bats. "We’ve had some battles, we were in games and lost them. We didn’t let this one get away."
Looking to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak from May 12-14, Baltimore hopes Kevin Millwood (0-6, 4.29) can come through with his first victory of 2010.
The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Yankees on Thursday. Millwood also walked four and surrendered two home runs for the second straight game.
He is 2-5 with a 5.15 ERA in 11 career starts versus New York.
Alex Rodriguez left Sunday in the ninth with groin tightness, but expects to play Tuesday. He’s hitting .370 with two home runs in his career against Millwood.
Posted: 6/7/10 11:50PM ET