Baltimore @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2013 ) Baltimore 2, NY Yankees 5

The New York Yankees were going to need some standout performances from unlikely sources and a few lucky breaks along the way to keep pace with the American League East while their stars healed on the disabled list. The Baltimore Orioles, who visit the Yankees again on Saturday, can attest to seeing a little bit of that luck strike the Yankees already. New York took the lead on a bases-clearing error and got a triple play in Friday’s win.

Vernon Wells - one of several veterans doing more than expected for the Yankees in the early going - sent a deep fly ball out to center field with two outs and the bases loaded on Friday that looked like it would find its way harmlessly into Gold Glove center fielder Adam Jones’ mitt. But while Jones got the glove on it, the ball popped out as he was bringing it down and New York cleared the bases. Baltimore threatened to get back into it in the next at-bat until the Yankees turned a triple play. The Orioles were the team of the late-inning comeback last season and had taken two straight off the Boston Red Sox’s bullpen before falling to New York on Friday.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jason Hammel (1-1, 4.97 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (0-1, 6.75)

Hammel earned a win on Opening Day at Tampa Bay but yielded four runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings to absorb a loss against Minnesota on Sunday. The 30-year-old right-hander faced New York twice in the playoffs last fall, allowing two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings each time, and went winless against the division rivals in five total starts last season. Robinson Cano (8-for-23 with a home run) and Ichiro Suzuki (7-for-12) have both given Hammel problems in the past.

Hughes was supposed to have his turn skipped but was pressed into duty when Andy Pettitte needed to be pushed back due to back spasms. Pettitte’s injury prompted Yankees manager Joe Girardi to move Hiroki Kuroda back a day to Sunday and slot Hughes into the rotation on Saturday. Hughes was an injury replacement in his first start as well, taking over Kuroda’s spot on April 6 at Detroit and getting touched for four runs - three earned - and eight hits in four innings. The 26-year-old is 6-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 17 career games - 14 starts - against the Orioles.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York SS Eduardo Nunez was hit by a pitch in the wrist and left the game on Friday. X-rays were negative and he is day-to-day.

2. In addition to making the error in the seventh on Friday, Jones also went 0-for-4 to snap his nine-game hitting streak.

3. Yankees 3B Kevin Youkilis has hit safely in all nine games.

PREDICTION: Orioles 7, Yankees 5