New York @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( May 21, 2013 ) NY Yankees 2, Baltimore 3
The Baltimore Orioles were desperate for a victory and Nate McLouth delivered a much-needed jolt, belting a walk-off homer in a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. The Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak - all at home - and have a chance to win the series when they host the Yankees in the rubber match on Wednesday night. Chris Dickerson, who played the past two seasons with New York, homered twice and has eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.
The Yankees had a three-game win streak snapped and also saw an impressive run come to an end Tuesday. New York became the last major-league team to lose when scoring first, having won its first 19 games when putting the first run on the scoreboard. Travis Hafner drove in both of the Yankees' runs, giving him three consecutive games with two RBIs. Hiroki Kuroda, who is second among American League starters with a 1.99 ERA, will vie for his seventh win Wednesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (6-2, 1.99 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jason Hammel (5-2, 5.72)
Kuroda is coming off a magnificent performance, limiting Toronto to two hits in eight scoreless innings. He has allowed only four runs over his last four starts, pitching at least seven innings in each, and has not permitted more than three runs in his nine outings. Kuroda dominated the Orioles last month, tossing his fifth career shutout to improve to 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA in three starts against Baltimore. McLouth is only 2-for-20 against Kuroda.
Hammel is 1-1 in his last three starts despite getting knocked around for 17 runs in 14 2/3 innings. He has failed to make it through the fifth inning in his last two outings, getting pummeled for seven runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. He lasted only four innings in his previous start, allowing six runs at Minnesota. Hammel gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings in a victory over the Yankees on April 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Hammel is 2-3 with a 5.82 ERA in 15 appearances (nine starts) against the Yankees.
2. New York is 7-2 in its last nine road games.
3. Baltimore is averaging 8 1/2 runs over Hammel's last six starts.
PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Orioles 3