Good afternoon, Yankees fans! Down at Camden Yards the Yankees will go for a much needed sweep of Baltimore. We'll be here with all the action, analysis, live chats and poll questions. Settle in, first pitch in a bit.
Top 1st -- Daniel Cabrera nearly NAILED Derek Jeter with a pitch. Bobby Abreu reached on a single, and with he and A-Rod on base, Jason Giambi made the last out of the inning on a line drive that was nabbed by Kevin Millar at first.
Bottom 1st -- Melvin Mora -- how hot is this guy? -- continued his hot streak against Darrell Rasner with a screaming solo shot to left. Then Aubrey Huff pounded a shot to right. Orioles 2, Yankees 0
Top 2nd -- Robbie's RBI double is the first run of the game for the Yankees. Johnny Damon followed it up with a three-run home run to make it 4-2. The opening chords to Wild Thing should be playing after Cabrera gets out of each inning. Yankees 4, Orioles 2
Bottom 2nd -- How was this for your worst possible situation: the bases loaded with Melvin Mora up at bat. Rasner, as it were, got out of the inning. Don't crack that pack of Rolaids just yet.
Top 3rd -- Pudge entered the batters box with two outs and runners on second and third. Batting with runners in scoring position looks about as fun for this guy as a colonoscopy. He grounded out to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd -- Rasner dealt a strikeout to get out of his latest jam, this time with two on and two out. How he does it? Not quite sure. But he's getting the job done.
Top 4th -- Giambi nearly hit a grand slam to right center; it stayed in the park and the Yankees scored a run on a sacrifice fly. A two-run double effectively ended Cabrera's outing.
Bottom 4th -- The O's got the tying run to the plate after an Aubrey Huff RBI. Kevin Millar's sacrifice made the score 7-5. Yankees 7, Orioles 5.
Top 5th -- Yankees can't get any runs on the board, and this is fast becoming one of the longer games the team will play this season. We'll keep our eye on the clock.
Bottom 5th -- The O's two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the score at 7. Orioles 7, Yankees 7
Top 6th -- Xaivier Nady struck out to end a scoreless inning for the Yankees.
Bottom 6th -- Edwar Ramirez gets out of a tough jam to end the inning. Still tied at seven.
Top 7th -- Robbie -- what a day he is haiving -- hit a solo home run to straightaway center to take an 8-7 lead. Yankees 8, Orioles 7
Bottom 7th -- The O's Brian Roberts represented the go ahead run at first, but Marte struck out to end the inning. Still 8-7 Yankees
Top 8th -- Abreu doubled and A-Rod reached on an infield single, but it was for naught; Giambi lined out to Brian Roberts.
Bottom 8th -- A very solid relief appearance for Damaso Marte. Mariano Rivera came into the game to get the final out of the eighth inning and struck out Jay Payton. Painted the inside corner.
Top 9th -- Well Jim Johnson did his job. Retired the side and we'll go into the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees holding an ever-so-slim 8-7 lead. Mariano time.
Bottom 9th -- Mariano got the save. Though, it was more interesting that I think they had all hoped. A sweep is a sweep. And yes, the Yankees are still in it.
FINAL Yankees 8, Orioles 7