GAME THREAD: AL: BALTIMORE (54-63) at NY YANKEES (67-51)

AL: BALTIMORE (54-63) at NY YANKEES (67-51)

<h3>Surging Yankees go for fifth straight win</h3>

Baltimore (54-63) at NY Yankees (67-51) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez and the New YorkYankees are peaking at the perfect time.


Rodriguez hopes to continue his hot hitting and the Yankees aimfor their fifth consecutive win when they host the BaltimoreOrioles on Tuesday.


Rodriguez, who went 1-for-4 in Monday's series opener, is13-for-37 (.351) with three home runs and 11 RBI over hisprevious 10 games. The two-time AL MVP is batting .300 with amajor league-leading 39 homers and 114 RBI this season.

New York has won 12 of its last 14 contests to climb into avirtual tie with the Seattle Mariners atop of the AmericanLeague wild card standings. The Yankees also have closed the ALEast gap to within four games of the Boston Red Sox.

Despite receiving a sub-par outing from ace Chien-Ming Wang anda blown save from Mariano Rivera, the Yankees rallied for a 7-6triumph in Monday's series opener.


Derek Jeter tapped an infield single with one out in the ninthinning to plate Melky Cabrera with the game-winning run.

Wang allowed five runs in six-plus innings while Rivera yieldeda run in the top of the ninth to blow his first save opportunitysince April 20.


The Yankees hope for a better pitching outing from Tuesday'sstarter, Jeff Karstens (0-2, 10.13 ERA), who has not startedsince suffering a broken leg after being hit by a comebackeragainst Boston on April 28.


Karstens, 24, underwent nearly three months of rehab and hasstruggled in his two relief outings since returning to theYankees, allowing eight runs - five earned - in 6 1/3 innings.

Baltimore counters with Daniel Cabrera (8-12, 5.14), who yieldedeight runs - seven earned - and eight hits with four strikeoutsover 5 1/3 frames in a 13-8 loss to the Mariners on Thursday.

The Orioles have lost five of their last seven contests.

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE AT NY YANKEES -- LINEUPS

BALTIMORE NY YANKEES
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Brian Roberts 2B .317 9 44 Melky Cabrera CF .302 8 52
Corey Patterson CF .270 6 35 Derek Jeter SS .329 8 57
Nick Markakis RF .295 11 72 Bobby Abreu RF .282 12 79
Miguel Tejada SS .299 11 58 Alex Rodriguez 3B .300 39 114
Kevin Millar 1B .268 11 51 Hideki Matsui LF .297 23 81
Aubrey Huff DH .260 8 50 Jorge Posada C .340 14 68
Melvin Mora 3B .270 13 44 Jason Giambi DH .275 9 26
Ramon Hernandez C .259 5 45 Robinson Cano 2B .312 13 69
Jay Payton LF .254 4 41 Wilson Betemit 1B .333 2 8

Daniel Cabrera RHP (8-12, 5.14) Jeffrey Karstens RHP (0-2, 10.13)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA (8-12, 5.14)
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS (0-2, 10.13)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - MIKE WINTERS
3B - BRUCE FROEMMING

WEATHER: 80 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 7 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA AND RAMON HERNANDEZ
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS AND JORGE POSADA

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.317, 9 HR, 44 RBI)
C PATTERSON (.270, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
N MARKAKIS (.295, 11 HR, 72 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.302, 8 HR, 52 RBI)
D JETER (.329, 8 HR, 57 RBI)
B ABREU (.282, 12 HR, 79 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
W Betemit 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
NY YANKEES - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.14

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 9.26

Pitches-strikes: J Karstens 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Karstens 0-2.
Batters faced: J Karstens 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: K MILLAR (.268, 11 HR, 51 RBI)
A HUFF (.260, 8 HR, 50 RBI)
M MORA (.270, 13 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS NY YANKEES (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
W Betemit 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 5.10

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 9.26

Pitches-strikes: D Cabrera 21-10; J Karstens 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Cabrera 2-1; J Karstens 0-2. Batters faced: D Cabrera 5; J Karstens 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JAY PAYTON SCORED KEVIN MILLAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J PAYTON ON FIRST, A HUFF ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 1
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.317, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 1 1 1 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.340, 14 HR, 68 RBI)
J GIAMBI (.275, 9 HR, 26 RBI)
R CANO (.312, 13 HR, 69 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (1) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .268
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .258
J Payton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .256

Totals 6 1 1 1 3 1 5

BATTING: S - M Mora. RBI - J Payton (42). 2-out RBI - J Payton. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 3.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
W Betemit 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 01 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 5.10

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 9.24

Pitches-strikes: D Cabrera 21-10; J Karstens 39-20. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Cabrera 2-1; J Karstens 2-3. Batters faced: D Cabrera 5; J Karstens 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 1 1 1 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: C PATTERSON (.270, 0-FOR-1)
N MARKAKIS (.295, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M TEJADA (.298, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (1) VS NY YANKEES (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .268
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .258
J Payton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .256

Totals 6 1 1 1 3 1 5

BATTING: S - M Mora. RBI - J Payton (42). 2-out RBI - J Payton. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 3.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .311
W Betemit 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 6 0 0 0 2 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 01 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 5.07

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 9.24

Pitches-strikes: D Cabrera 32-18; J Karstens 39-20. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Cabrera 3-1; J Karstens 2-3. Batters faced: D Cabrera 8; J Karstens 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY AUBREY HUFF (9) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF JEFFREY KARSTENS SCORED NICK MARKAKIS, MIGUEL TEJADA AND
KEVIN MILLAR.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M MORA (.270, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 1 4 5 5 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: W BETEMIT (.333, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
M CABRERA (.302, 0-FOR-1)
D JETER (.328, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (5) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
C Patterson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
N Markakis rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .296
M Tejada ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 .270
A Huff dh 1 1 1 4 1 0 0 .262
M Mora 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
R Hernandez c 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257
J Payton lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .255

Totals 13 5 5 5 4 1 7

BATTING: 2B - N Markakis (32, J Karstens). HR - A Huff (9, 3rd inning off J
Karstens 3 on, 1 Out). S - M Mora. RBI - J Payton (42), A Huff 4 (54). 2-out
RBI - J Payton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB
- 4.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .311
W Betemit 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 6 0 0 0 2 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 014 -- 5
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 5.07

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 3 5 5 5 4 1 1 11.19

Pitches-strikes: D Cabrera 32-18; J Karstens 74-43. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Cabrera 3-1; J Karstens 3-5. Batters faced: D Cabrera 8; J Karstens 18.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 1 4 5 5 1
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - DANIEL CABRERA
NYY - JEFFREY KARSTENS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.316, 0-FOR-2)
C PATTERSON (.269, 0-FOR-2)
N MARKAKIS (.296, 1-FOR-1, BB)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (5) VS NY YANKEES (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .316
C Patterson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
N Markakis rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .296
M Tejada ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .298
K Millar 1b 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 .270
A Huff dh 1 1 1 4 1 0 0 .262
M Mora 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
R Hernandez c 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .257
J Payton lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .255

Totals 13 5 5 5 4 1 7

BATTING: 2B - N Markakis (32, J Karstens). HR - A Huff (9, 3rd inning off J
Karstens 3 on, 1 Out). S - M Mora. RBI - J Payton (42), A Huff 4 (54). 2-out
RBI - J Payton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB
- 4.

FIELDING: E - J Payton (6, fly ball).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
D Jeter ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .296
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .311
W Betemit 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316

Totals 10 0 0 0 2 2 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 014 -- 5
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Cabrera 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 5.04

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
J Karstens 3 5 5 5 4 1 1 11.19

Pitches-strikes: D Cabrera 45-25; J Karstens 74-43. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Cabrera 5-2; J Karstens 3-5. Batters faced: D Cabrera 12; J Karstens 18.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: JIM BROWER (0-0, 6.75) STARTING THE 4TH
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.316, 0-FOR-2)</div>