O's @ Yanks July 29-Aug 1

[PopTop]

Orioles currently spanking the Yankees 9-1 in the top of the 9th. El Puerco Ponson has been in there the whole time with a 4-hitter so far, no walks :eek: Mighty Mel and Javy with big doubles, Javy also has a bomb.


:bball:

[rockin500]

bout damned time ponson put together some good games to help me in one of my fantasy leagues! :angry:

[babyblu6992]

yay!!! go sidney! and javy! Awesome game there! :D

[PopTop]

Someone should've been yelling and screaming at Ponson earlier this season.



BOXSCORE (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240729110)



After shaky 1st, Ponson dominates
AP Story @ ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240729110)

NEW YORK (AP) -- After a shout-out, Sidney Ponson responded with a semi-shutout.

Facing the team that pounded him earlier this season, Ponson pitched a four-hitter and Javy Lopez homered again, leading the Baltimore Orioles past the New York Yankees 9-1 Thursday night.

"Lucky, I guess," Ponson said.

Ponson (6-12) had quite a night, retiring 18 straight batters at one stretch.

After going 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA in three outings against the Yankees this season, Ponson got off to another rocky start when Bernie Williams hit a leadoff double in the first and scored on Gary Sheffield's single.

When the inning ended, Ponson made a quick trip back to the Baltimore clubhouse. He reminded himself -- loudly -- that he had to get better.

"I screamed, I yelled," he said.

And the Yankees did not score again.

Ponson found his rhythm in a hurry after Jorge Posada opened the second with a single for the Yankees' third hit. Hideki Matsui grounded into a double play in the second and New York did not get another runner until Matsui singled with one out in the eighth.

"You might get knocked out in the first inning, who knows?" Ponson said. "That's why you play the games.

"I mixed my pitches, kept them off-balance," he said.

Ponson, about 10 pounds lighter than when the Yankees last beat him on June 24, was in complete command in his third complete game of the year. For the first time this season, he did not walk a batter, and posted his third straight win following a career-worst nine-game losing streak.

"He was dominating tonight. He was spectacular," Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said. "I told him before that he was not a 3-12 pitcher. Since the break, he's really turned it around."

Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end the first inning, helping Ponson escape further damage.

"He's been very good for a long time," Rodriguez said. "But that's as consistent as I've seen him in one game. Usually, he gives you a window of opportunity."

Even before the 51,677 fans began booing them in the late innings, it was an unsettling day for the Yankees. Rodriguez was suspended for four games for his fight in Boston last week, and ailing slugger Jason Giambi stayed away from Yankee Stadium while waiting for test results on the intestinal parasite that's plagued him.

Melvin Mora drove in four runs, Lopez had three RBI and Miguel Tejada hit a pair of RBI singles for Baltimore. The Orioles won for just the second time in 10 games this season against the AL East leaders.

Lopez, coming off his two-homer performance the previous day against Curt Schilling at Fenway Park, hit his 15th homer, along with a double and single.

Jose Contreras (8-5) pitched on three days' rest without success. The Yankees brought him back after he got tagged over 5 1-3 innings Sunday night at Boston, and this time the Orioles roughed him up for seven runs in 6 2-3 innings.

Contreras' problems started after leadoff man Brian Roberts beat him to the bag for a two-out infield hit in the third. A walk loaded the bases, Mora followed with a two-run single and Tejada and Lopez added RBI singles.

Contreras said the Orioles got hits "on pitches I wanted to make."

"They didn't hit the ball very hard," he said through a translator.

Lopez homered in the sixth for a 5-1 lead. Contreras was pulled after a pair of two-out singles in the seventh, and the Orioles finished off reliever Bret Prinz. Mora met him with a two-run double, Tejada singled home a run and Lopez hit an RBI double.

Game notes
Mazzilli, a New York coach before becoming Baltimore's manager in the offseason, got his first win at Yankee Stadium. ... Mazzilli nearly got nailed by B.J. Surhoff's foul liner into the dugout in the sixth. ... Ponson improved to 4-11 lifetime against the Yankees. He's lost to them more than any other team. ... Rodriguez is appealing his suspension, which was set to start Friday. He can play pending a hearing

[PopTop]

The rookie Cabrera versus the old, grizzled veteran Brown ... As for Ponson's comment below, is the guy just a complete rockhead or what?!?!?! Let's see, you pitch like crap all season, drop a few pounds and then pitch better, and you still refuse to note the relationship between being in better shape and performing better on the field? He's got granite inside that noggin, I'm telling you.






O's hope to repeat with Cabrera
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_news.jsp?ymd=20040729&content_id=813789&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp)

NEW YORK, 30 JULY 04 --- The Orioles improved to 2-8 against the Yankees this season with an impressive 9-1 win over the Bombers on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Behind Sidney Ponson's four-hitter, the O's improved to 9-6 after the All-Star break and are 1 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for third place in the American League East.

Now, they will try to take Game 2 behind impressive rookie Daniel Cabrera, who pitched well in his first-ever game at Yankee Stadium. He allowed two runs in six innings in a no-decision on June 3. He is the team's co-leader in wins and is one of the top candidates for AL Rookie of the Year.

He is coming off one of his roughest starts since joining the big leagues in May. He allowed eight runs in five-plus innings against Minnesota and gave up six of those runs with two out. Cabrera will oppose right-hander Kevin Brown, who will make his return from the disabled list after missing a six weeks with a strained lower back.

The Baltimore offense scored eight of its runs Thursday with two out and Melvin Mora knocked in four runs to increase his average to .340, second in the AL behind Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez. Miguel Tejada's two RBIs increased his AL-leading total to 94.

Pitching matchup:
BAL: RHP Daniel Cabrera
8-4, 3.65 ERA in 2004
0-0, 3.00 ERA in 2004 vs. NYY
0-0, 3.00 ERA lifetime vs. NYY

NYY: RHP Kevin Brown
7-1, 4.13 ERA in 2004
Did not face BAL in 2003
2-7, 4.50 ERA lifetime vs. BAL

Player to watch
Catcher Javy Lopez has three home runs in the past two games and is heating up offensively. He even delivered a single with a runner in scoring position and two out. He entered Thursday hitting .212 in that situation.

Quotable
"I am the same pitcher regardless." -- Right-hander Sidney Ponson on whether his recent weight loss has improved his pitching :hmm:

Quick hits
The Orioles are 18-18 in their past 36 games and 1-3 at Yankee Stadium with six more games left here. ... David Newhan went 1-for-4, snapping a 3-for-23 slump. He also scored two runs. ... Rafael Palmeiro went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .248. ... Jerry Hairston was twice caught stealing by Yankee catcher Jorge Posada.

[PopTop]

I never saw replays of Williams being nailed, kinda' glad I didn't and surely glad he's ok.


Notes: Williams' return uncertain
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_news.jsp?ymd=20040729&content_id=813630&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp)

NEW YORK -- Todd Williams is still feeling the effects of being hit in the back of the neck by a Gabe Kapler liner on Monday and is not close to returning to action.

Williams, who made the trip to New York, has been experiencing headaches and may have suffered a mild concussion, he said. After saying Tuesday that he could be back within a few days, Williams is now unsure when he will be able to pitch. The disabled list is a distinct possibility, especially considering the Orioles have four games with the Yankees followed by a doubleheader Tuesday against Seattle.

Manager Lee Mazzilli could use an extra arm in the bullpen. Williams said he is not taking medication but has not resumed baseball activities.

"Well, I think it's a good sign that I am not taking anything but I can't tell you when I am going to be back," he said. "It's getting a little bit better every day but the doctors said they don't want me doing anything strenuous to aggravate the concussion, so I am taking it easy."

Williams was hit in a frightening scene in the eighth inning, when the Kapler liner hit him flush in the neck. He briefly lost consciousness but did not require hospitalization. He has received treatment the past few days.

The Orioles entered the Yankees series with a fresh bullpen because of Tuesday's rainout and Wednesday's gem by Dave Borkowski.

Are you kidding? Overshadowed by Borkowski's sparkling performance on Wednesday was the solo home run by David Ortiz off lefty reliever B.J. Ryan. Ryan, who has been astounding against lefties this season (3-for-64), had not allowed a home run to a left-handed batter since Boston's Cliff Floyd hit one at Camden Yards on Sept. 22, 2002, a span of 125 appearances.

It's a testament to Ryan's dominance against lefties and he had nothing but compliments for Ortiz.

"Good hitters usually don't miss cookies and he didn't miss that one," Ryan said. "And he put a good swing on that ball because it wasn't carrying to right field."

Trade update: The Oakland A's, who have had an interest in second basemen Jerry Hairston and Brian Roberts, had a scout at Thursday's Orioles-Yankees game but he was there primarily to scout the Yankees, who host the A's beginning Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

According to a Major League executive, the A's are not going to part with any top prospects or increase payroll to acquire a second baseman. That likely would leave out Hairston, who is eligible for arbitration and could earn $3 million next season. Roberts could be a possibility but the A's are not going to involve players such as Rich Harden or Joe Blanton.

The A's have been platooning veteran Mark McLemore and Marco Scutaro at second base and would like a more steady presence. But the team's first priority is expected to be bullpen help.

Gibbons update: Right fielder Jay Gibbons will arrive in New York on Friday to be evaluated and could be back with the club within a week or 10 days after a rehabilitation assignment. Gibbons was placed on the disabled list on June 29 with a partially torn hip flexor but has been running and appeared ready to resume baseball activities.

It's been a miserable year for Gibbons, who was supposed to flourish most from the presence of Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez and Rafael Palmeiro. But nursing a series of injuries, Gibbons hit .223 in 53 games with six homers and 28 RBIs. He missed almost three weeks in June because of a lower back strain.

Gibbons' return will give Mazzilli more flexibility in the lineup. Hairston, who entered the season as the starting second baseman, is playing everyday right field. Mazzilli said he is more comfortable with Karim Garcia in center field and Larry Bigbie in left.

Farm report: Tim Raines Jr. scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth off an error, as Triple-A Ottawa edged Rochester, 3-2, on Wednesday in Canada. Rick Bauer allowed two runs in six innings and received a no-decision. He struck out four and walked one.

Geronimo Gil had three hits while Jack Cust socked his 14th home run.

[Obri]

I was up late watching this last night, man it sucked. :( I was kinda hoping I could watch it with Nan, but I haven't heard from her yet. Probably a good thing given the score. :hmm:

[PopTop]

She'd have been razzin' you big time I do believe :cool: How's it going, Obes? Getting back in the swing of things and settling back into real life following your NYC trip?

.

[Sheafaithful]

Wow, Sidney Ponson beat the Yankees.

That is the best news I've heard today!

:D

[PopTop]

Not the same positive result as Game 1, but still a well-pitched game against a pretty fadir pitcher in Kevin Brown himself.



Orioles fall short to Yankees
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040730&content_id=814404&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp)

BOXSCORE (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2004_07_30_balmlb_nyamlb_1&c_id=bal)

NEW YORK -- Sometimes even superstars have nights they would rather forget. Such was the case on Friday for Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, who has been carrying the team for the past month.

He has lived up to his six-year, $72 million deal this season, playing with passion and consistency. Yet, when in some key situations on Friday against the Yankees, Tejada couldn't produce and the Orioles were handed a tough 2-1 loss in front of 51,551 at Yankee Stadium.

Tejada capped a rather drab offensive night from the Orioles with three strikeouts and a double-play ball, his American League-leading 16th. Meanwhile, Daniel Cabrera pitched well in his second start in the Bronx and was charged with the tough-luck loss after allowing a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Still, the 6-foot-7 rookie right-hander relished his opportunity to start on baseball's premier stage. He pitched well enough to win, scattering seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"That was one of the best games that I maybe had in my life," he said. "It's the Yankees. And I pitched pretty good. It was a tight game."

The Orioles were bottled up by right-hander Kevin Brown, who allowed just one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings after missing 44 games with a strained lower back and an intestinal parasite.

He had not faced the Orioles in 10 years, losing a decision at Camden Yards on April 9, 1994, while with the Texas Rangers. Brown would sign with the Orioles a year later as a free agent and went 10-9 in one season.

He had won seven of his first eight decisions before being injured and was sharp on Friday, save a couple of jams. The Orioles had their chances against Brown, but he pitched well with men on base.

Brown retired the first six batters faced before B.J. Surhoff lined a home run to right field in the third inning -- Surhoff's first homer since returning from the disabled list. Jerry Hairston then followed with a single and two fly balls later, David Newhan singled to left-center field.

Brown then walked Melvin Mora on five pitches to load the bases for Tejada, who couldn't solve Brown all night. Tejada whiffed at a curveball in the dirt and eventually struck out to end the frame.

"It wasn't just me, it was everybody," said Tejada, who is now 0-for-9 lifetime against Brown. "He was nasty with everybody. It was one of those nights where no teams got any hits."

Cabrera (8-5, 3.60 ERA) was coming off his worst start of the season, eight earned runs in five-plus innings against Minnesota on Sunday. He was a better pitcher Friday, mixing his fastball and slider and keeping the patient Yankees off balance. He scattered two walks and a single through the first three innings but made a costly mistake to Alex Rodriguez to begin the fourth.

The third baseman hit a high fastball to deep left field, hitting the net covering the monuments for his 26th home run to tie the game at 1.

Cabrera settled down and escaped the inning with no further damage, but the Yankees began getting a bead on his pitches in the fifth and rallied for the go-ahead run. He allowed singles to Kenny Lofton and Derek Jeter with one out.

Gary Sheffield followed with a two-hopper that ate up Mora at third base, bouncing off his chest. It was ruled a hit and loaded the bases for Rodriguez with one out.

Mora said the ball took a bad hop off the infield grass, which shocked him.

"I don't expect that because this is the best infield I have ever played on in my life," he said. "I was just lucky to keep it in front of me."

Cabrera had an eight-pitch battle Rodriguez, including a potential grand slam that landed about seven feet foul down the left-field line.

Rodriguez managed a liner to left field that was caught by Surhoff on a diving play, but Lofton scored from third for the eventual winning run.

Tejada bounced into a double play in the sixth after Mora led off with a single. In the eighth, against Tom Gordon, he struck out on a full count fastball and slammed his bat to the dirt in anger, summing up his frustration.

"He doesn't have too many nights like this," manager Lee Mazzilli said. "They were pitching him tough. It was a tough night for the hitters on both sides."

[PopTop]

Interesting to see if they really do find a way to keep both Hairston and Roberts in the starting lineup together ... I love it when teams get faster instead of stronger (home run wise) ... Not sure what it means to Luis-Luis, though :notme:





Hairston journeys to center
Utility man could become everyday center fielder
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_news.jsp?ymd=20040731&content_id=815063&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp)

NEW YORK -- At this point, nothing surprises Jerry Hairston. He has been transformed from an everyday second baseman to a designated hitter and then a left fielder and then a right fielder.

So he was rather blasé when he saw his name written as the starting center fielder before Saturday's game with the New York Yankees. Hairston has been unhappy with his utility-type role for the past three months and now it appears he will have to endure it for the rest of the season.

Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said Hairston in center is not a one-time thing. With Luis Matos not close to returning to the lineup because of a bruised right shin, Mazzilli said Hairston has a chance to be the everyday center fielder.

"We sat down and I asked him about it," Mazzilli said. "I said, 'I know you want to play second base, I understand that.' But I can't put Roberts in the outfield. If [Hairston] had any reservations about it, I would not have done it. He's excited about it."

Larry Bigbie, considered to be the most viable option for center field, was in left field while Karim Garcia, whose experiment at center was uneven at best, was back in right field.

Hairston has voiced his displeasure over being moved around while Roberts, who is hitting 52 points less, appears secure at second base. He had hoped the position switching would not last until the end of the season.

"I just hope they reward me," he said. "I have been a team guy and I have done what they have asked. There's nothing I can do, so I am going to keep going out there and playing. I am going to take the same approach as I always do. I've got no control over it."

Hairston has not demanded a trade and said he holds hope the situation in Baltimore can be worked out. Until then, he could emerge as the everyday center fielder.

"I have asked Luis about it and am going to get some tips," he said. "They say the balls come off the bat more naturally and it's easier to track the balls. We'll just see what happens."

[B]Gibbons anxious: Jay Gibbons participated in full pregame workouts on Friday and said a day later he feels as good as he did before his rash of injuries. Gibbons has missed the past six weeks with a herniated disc in his back and then a torn hip flexor muscle.

Gibbons said he is completely healthy and ready for a rehabilitation assignment likely with Single-A Frederick next week.

"The doctors did not let me start working out until I was a full go, so I am feeling great," he said. "I am anxious to get back into the lineup. Watching games on TV has been brutal for me."

The club expects Gibbons to return by Friday's game against Texas and assume his duties in right field.

"It's been hard for me to know they have had to put guys in right field because I have been hurt," he said. "But it's a relief to know that I can get out there 100 percent. I haven't really been healthy since April."

Gibbons said he also rehabilitated his back injury during his recovery from the torn hip flexor and has no discomfort.

Sign of things to come: A struggling Rafael Palmeiro was on the bench Saturday against right-hander Javier Vazquez and B.J. Surhoff was playing first base. Palmeiro is hitting just .245, is in a 0-for-14 slump and has four RBIs in the past 16 games.

The club is not expected to honor Palmeiro's option for next season and his playing time could decrease in the final two months.

Farm report: Jack Cust hit his 15th home run and Jose Leon had three hits as Triple-A Ottawa lost to Rochester, 5-3, on Friday in Canada. Sean Bergman allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. :eek: I was not aware that Bergman was still pitching anywhere

[Sheafaithful]

PopTop, you make a good replacement for Nanner, I'm sure she would be proud! :)

Hairston is such a good guy, my mom friend is good friends with him. Way to step aside and let Brian "Sparky" Roberts play....

[PopTop]

PopTop, you make a good replacement for Nanner
Thanks, but I'm not doing so hot here in this series with the Yanks up 2-1 ... O's need to get a split today.

Hairston apparently isn't going to let playing CF affect his offense. I like him and Roberts in the 1-9 holes.




BOXSCORE (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2004_07_31_balmlb_nyamlb_1&c_id=bal)

Timid Bedard chased by Yanks
Rookie lefty leaves Orioles in insurmountable hole
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040731&content_id=815202&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp)

NEW YORK -- Unlike his rookie predecessor Daniel Cabrera on Friday night, Erik Bedard did not approach his first career start at Yankee Stadium on Saturday with aggression. He tried nipping the corners. He fell behind nearly every hitter. He pitched with a lack of self-assuredness. Bedard was chased in the fifth inning because he tired himself out with needless pitches and the Yankees' veteran lineup took advantage.

Bedard allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings as the Orioles dropped a 6-4 decision to the Bombers in front of 51,845 in the Bronx, in a game that typified the left-hander's maddening inconsistency.

Manager Lee Mazzilli wants Bedard to go after hitters and allow his above-average stuff get outs. Instead, he is pitching with timidity.

"He's got to get ahead of hitters, that's the key," Mazzilli said. "You fall behind hitters and they are going to be patient. He was fighting himself."

Bedard ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, but it was set up by a laborious first three frames. The left-hander seemingly fell behind every batter in the early going, but he managed to retire seven of the first eight batters faced before a two-out double by John Flaherty in the third.

Bedard (4-6, 4.67 ERA) then walked Miguel Cairo and Derek Jeter to load the bases but got Gary Sheffield to foul out to catcher Javy Lopez.

Jerry Hairston, starting in center field for the first time in his career, homered off Javier Vazquez (12-6) in the third inning for a 1-0 lead. But Bedard gave it back in the fourth, in a strange inning to say the least.

Alex Rodriguez began the inning with a single and moved to third on Hideki Matsui's single. It appeared a strong throw to third would nab Rodriguez by 10 feet, but Hairston hesitated and flipped the ball to second base.

Ruben Sierra then struck out, but after he missed strike three, Matsui took off for second. Lopez threw to second base, and despite Matsui's stopping between first and second, a late-covering Brian Roberts fired the ball back home to try to get Rodriguez, who slid home safely. It was the first steal of home against the Orioles since May 5, 2001, when Jeter pulled off the feat.

The play exemplified the differences between the Orioles and Yankees. Mental lapses have ruined the O's chances of playing consistently with the upper-echelon teams. The double steal not only gave the Yankees another run, but it invigorated the crowd and changed the game's momentum.

"That was not good," Mazzilli said. "Roberts was late covering. You've got to cover the bag. He got there too late. I don't know what he was thinking, can't answer that."

Said Roberts: "I guess it breaks down to I probably broke too late. I froze a little bit when [Sierra] swung the bat. By the time I got there I was a little too late and I couldn't really get set to get a good throw home. They ran it the way they were supposed to and we probably didn't."

Tony Clark then delivered an RBI single to cash in Matsui for a 2-1 lead. The Yankees then chased Bedard in the fifth when Jeter laced a triple into the right-field corner to score Cairo, and Sheffield followed with an RBI groundout.

Rodriguez then connected on his second homer in as many nights, a solo shot for a 5-1 lead.

Bedard now is 1-4 with a 6.43 ERA in his past six starts and has thrown at least 100 pitches in seven of his past eight starts. He's back to the wobbly Bedard who would take 90 pitches to reach the fifth inning. He is not sure how to get on track.

"I wasn't throwing strikes from pitch one," he said. "I can't stop working. The only thing I can do is go out there and throw strikes and if you got it, you got it and if you don't, you don't."

The Orioles responded with three runs in the top of the sixth, two scored on sacrifice flies and the other on a wild pitch. Against a shaky Vazquez, the Orioles were unable to deliver the decisive hit.

Meanwhile, Eddy Rodriguez gave up a laser shot to Sheffield in the sixth that provided a much-needed insurance run for the Yankees.

And Yankee manager Joe Torre handed it to his dominating bullpen. The trio of Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera allowed just two singles over the final three innings.

"I know what it's like [on the other side]," Mazzilli said. "If we get another hit there maybe things are different. But we tried to battle back."

[PopTop]

Sure would be a nice way to begin August, winning today's contest and earning a split on the road in the Bronx.




Lopez last hope for series split
Gary Washburn / MLB.com (http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bal/news/bal_news.jsp?ymd=20040731&content_id=815613&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp)

The Orioles end a six-game stretch with the Red Sox and Yankees on Sunday with the four-game series finale at Yankee Stadium. They lost, 6-4, on Saturday after the Bombers chased Erik Bedard in the fifth inning and used their dominating bullpen to close it out. The Yankees are 10-2 against the Orioles this season.

Baltimore will go with Rodrigo Lopez, who has a chance to take the team-lead in wins and inch closer to tying his career-high mark of 15 set in 2002. Lopez has been the model of consistency since rejoining the rotation a month ago. Lopez, however, has had tough times against the Yankees this season, compiling an 11.37 ERA.

The Yankees will counter with right-hander Orlando Hernandez, who looks more and more like he is going to be a factor in the pennant race for the Bombers. What's more, it was probably his presence that made right-hander Jose Contreras expendable this weekend.

The Orioles' offense realizes it has to get to Hernandez early because the Yankees are turning games into six-inning contests with their dominating bullpen. The trio of Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera has shut down the O's the past two nights. Miguel Tejada is 3-for-11 in the series and just 1-for-6 after knocking in two runs on Thursday.

Pitching matchup:
BAL: RHP Rodrigo Lopez
8-6, 3.61 ERA in 2004
0-0, 11.37 in 2004 vs. NYY
2-2, 6.55 lifetime vs. NYY

NYY:: RHP Orlando Hernandez
2-0, 2.37 ERA in 2004
Did not face BAL in 2003
5-2, 4.91 lifetime vs. BAL

Player to watch
Jerry Hairston is going to be given a chance to win the starting center field job with Luis Matos on the disabled list. Hairston was uneven in his debut in center field Saturday, but has little options if he wants to stay in the lineup.

Quotable
"I forgot, I don't think that far back." -- Bedard when asked about a play in the fifth inning Saturday

Quick hits
The Orioles are 18-20 in their last 38 games and 2-10 against the Yankees this season. ... B.J. Surhoff made his first start at first base since Sept. 26, 2003 at Yankee Stadium. ... Karim Garcia went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .158 since joining the Orioles. He also has four RBIs since collecting five in his Orioles debut on July 20.

On deck
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Orioles vs. Seattle, 1:05 p.m. ET
Tuesday: Orioles vs. Seattle, 7:05 p.m. ET
Wednesday: Orioles vs. Seattle, 7:05 p.m. ET
Thursday: Off
Friday: Orioles vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m. ET
Saturday: Orioles vs. Texas, 4:35 p.m. ET

[Obri]

She'd have been razzin' you big time I do believe :cool: How's it going, Obes? Getting back in the swing of things and settling back into real life following your NYC trip?

Just about Willie. It was a bit of a shock to the system at first, but I'm just about back to normality. :thumbsup: