Series Vs Baltimore

   The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles opened a crucial three game set from Yankee Stadium on Monday. The Yankees were looking to blow open the American League East as the Orioles were looking to climb back into the race and erase the Yankees 7.5 game lead. The game one matchup consisted of Miguel Gonzalez for the O's and Freddy Garcia for the Yankees. Gonzalez entered this matchup at 2-2 while Garcia was 4-4. Runs came at a minimum as the Yankees struck first on an Eric Chavez single that drove in Raul Ibanez. The Orioles did not waste any time coming back as the leadoff hitter in the top of the third, Wilson Betemit, hit his 12th home run of the season. The O's would strike again in the top of the fifth scoring two runs on sacrifice flies. One by Omar Quintanilla and the second one by Nick Markakis. With a three to one lead heading into the bottom of the 5th the Yankees needed some runs and Raul Ibanez provided that for them as he lead off the inning with his 14th home run of the season cutting the O's lead to 3-2. However, in an attempt to cool off the red hot Nick Markakis, Manager Joe Girardi relieved Garcia with lefty thrower Boone Logan. Logan served up a double to Nick and eventually another run came around on a JJ Hardy single. Down 5-2 entering the bottom of the frame and with two outs Eric Chavez blasted his 9th homer of the season. And sure enough next batter Ichiro Suzuki hit his first home run as a Yankee and 100th career home run to cut the O's lead to 5-4. The Orioles bullpen shut down the Yanks the rest of the way through and the O's cut the Yankees division lead to 6.5 games. 

   The Yankees came into game two with one of their best pitchers, a pitcher in which they score a tremendous amount of runs for in Ivan Nova. Nova at 10-4 went up against Chris Tilman who pitched to a record of 3-1. The Yankees who score a ton of runs with Nova on the mound did not waste anytime as Derek Jeter led off with a double. Next batter Curtis Granderson drove him in with a single. Tilman off to a shaky start faced the Yankees most dangerous hitter in Robinson Cano. This matchup did not go well for Tilman as he served up a two run home run to Robby, his 24th of the year. The Yankees would cap off the inning scoring two more runs for a five run first inning. Yankee fans believed this was going to be a blow out. Not so fast as the Orioles came storming back in the top of the second. All with two outs the Orioles scored 7 runs off of Nova. Their 7 run outburst was capped off by a Chris Davis grand slam, his 18th home run of the season. The Orioles would not look back either as they scored one more run off Nova in the third. Nova left the game allowing 8 runs, by far his worst outing of the season and maybe of his whole career. The O's scored 3 more runs, two of which came on a Nick Markakis homer, to cap off an 11-5 victory taking the first two in the Bronx and cutting the lead to 5.5 games. 

   The rubber match of this three game set came on a Wednesday matinee in the Bronx. Phil Hughes, 10-8, faced lefty Zach Britton, 1-0, for the Orioles. The Yankees felt a little pressure trying to avoid the sweep and they dealt with it by putting up runs. In the bottom of the first Curtis Granderson started the hit parade with his 29th home run of the season. Andruw Jones hit a sac fly and the Yankees were up 2 zip early. Phil Hughes however gave one back in the top of the second on a ground out to Omar Quintanilla. But the Yanks would strike again scoring two more runs in the bottom half of the inning on a pair of singles from Jeter and Nick Swisher. With a 4-1 lead the Yanks were no where near done. In the bottom of the third, they went off. Robinson Cano capped off what would be a 7 run 3rd with a grand slam, his 24th home run of the season. Zach Britton's day was over giving up 7 runs. With a big lead the Yankees Manager Joe Girardi felt it was time for Joba Chamberlain to make his return. Coming off Tommy John surgery in which he missed the entire 2011 season and then breaking his ankle caused him to miss all of the 2012 season, up to this point. He walked out of the bullpen thrilled to be back and the crowd gave him a huge ovation. Joba was in for a rude awakening as the first batter he has faced since 2010 was JJ Hardy. Needless to say, JJ Hardy crushed a 85 mph slider off Joba for a solo home run. Joba struggled in his 2012 debut giving up two runs on four hits in an inning and a third of work. No harm, no foul however as the Yanks won the game 11-3 and avoided getting swept by the Orioles at the Stadium for the first time since 1989.