On the Yankees beat

Good evening everyone. Marc here with you as the Yankees open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (61-65). Coming off a forgettable series against the Blue Jays, including a 14-3 beat down last night, Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.35 ERA) will try to give the Yankees (67-60) a much needed victory away from home. He is 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA in eight road starts since losing at Boston on April 12. In his last outing, Mussina allowed three runs on six hits while striking out five in six innings in a 15-6 rout of Kansas on Sunday. He will be going against Radhames Liz (4-3, 7.47), who makes his first appearance for the Orioles since being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on July 27.

Will be back after the Yankees bat. Feel free to share your comments.

Top 1st: The Yankees scored a run, but they have got to be kicking themselves because they should have scored two or three. Johnny Damon doubled, his 26th on the season. Derek Jeter followed with a bloop single, his 2,500 career hit, to set up first and third with no one out. Bobby Abreu followed with an RBI single but then Alex Rodriguez hit into a double play and Jason Giambi struck out. Yankees 1, Orioles 0.

Bottom 1st: Mussina allowed three singles in the inning as the Orioles tied the game at 1. Brian Roberts singled and stole second. After a Nick Markakis strike out and a Melvin Mora fly out, Aubrey Huff followed with an RBI single. Yankees 1, Orioles 1.

Top 2nd: Following a one out walk by Hideki Matsui and a single by Robinson Cano, Jose Molina struck out and Damon popped out.

Bottom 2nd: 1-2-3 inning for the Moose. Ramon Hernandez grounded out while Jay Payton and Juan Castro flied out.

Top 3rd: Abreu hit a one-out single, but he was thrown out trying to steal second as A-Rod struck out.

Bottom 3rd: The O’s took the lead on three straight hits. Markakis, Mora and Huff (RBI) all singled before Kevin Millar hit into an inning-ending DP. Orioles 2, Yankees 1.

Top 4th: The Yankees were retired in order. Jason Giambi led off, ripped a shot to right and was thrown out at second by Markakis. (He overslid the bag.) Nady flied out and Matsui grounded out.

Bottom 4th: O’s add to their lead with a solo homer by Ramon Hernandez. Orioles 3, Yankees 1.

Top 5th: Who would have thought, but Cano and Jose Molina led off the inning with home runs as the Yankees tied the game! Then with Abreu at first on a single, Dennis Sarfate came on and got A-Rod to ground out. Yankees 3, Orioles 3.

Bottom 5th: Mussina retired the side in order. Roberts flied out, Markakis fanned and Mora grounded out.

Top 6th: Not much for the Yanks this inning. Giambi and Nady struck out, Matsui walked and Cano flied out.

Bottom 6th: The O’s retook the lead. Millar smacked a one-out double, moved to third on a single by Luke Scott and scored on Hernandez’s sacrifice fly. Orioles 4, Yankees 3.

Top 7th: Rocky Cherry came in and set down the Yankees in order as Molina, Damon and Jeter got nothing.

Bottom 7th: Jose Veras came for Mussina (4 runs on 9 nine hits) and retired the side in order.

Top 8th: Yanks scored two runs to retake the lead. With Jamie Walker on the mound, Abreu singled and moved to third on a double by A-Rod, who missed a homer by a foot or two. After Giambi popped out, Kam Mickolio came in and uncorked a wild pitch as Abreu scored to tie the game at 4. Nady followed and ripped an RBI single to right. Then with Alberto Castillo in, Matsui grounded out, Cano reached on an E6 and Molina fanned. Yankees 5, Orioles 4.

Bottom 8th: Damaso Marte hit Huff with two outs before Mariano Rivera came in and got the pesky Millar to pop out.

Top 9th: Yanks went back-to-back once again! Following a single by Abreu and a ground rule double by A-Rod, Cody Ransom, who came in for defense for Giambi, belted a three-run homer and Nady followed with a solo jack. Yankees 9, Orioles 4.

Bottom 9th: Mo does his thing and sets down the O’s in order. Final: Yankees 9, Orioles 4.