A.J. Burnett allowed one run over 7.1 innings, and Francisco Cervelli collected three hits to lead New York over Baltimore, 4-1, Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
New York improved to 9-2 in their last 11 home games against Baltimore. The Orioles lost their second straight after a weekend sweep of Boston.
Burnett (4-0) lowered his ERA to 1.99 after limiting Baltimore to one run (unearned) on five hits while walking two and striking out eight. He improved to 11-2 all-time against the Orioles.
In two starts this season against Baltimore, Burnett has only allowed one run on eight hits with 12 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.
Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many games.
Cervelli led the bottom third of the Yankees lineup, which was responsible for half of New York’s eight hits.
He was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Brett Gardner had a hit, two runs scored and a stolen base. Ramiro Pena, who started at shortstop for the second game this season, drove in two runs.
Baltimore scored first for the second consecutive night.
After the first two batters reached in the top of the third, Cesar Izturis laid down a sacrifice bunt. Burnett fielded the bunt, but his throw was wide of first, allowing Garrett Atkins to score from second.
With runners at second and third and no outs, Burnett struck out Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters to end the inning and limit the damage.
New York tied the game in the bottom of the third. Cervelli led off the inning with his first career triple and scored on Pena’s RBI groundout.
The bottom of the fifth was very similar to the top of the third, except New York took advantage of a Baltimore error. After the first two batters reached base, Pena laid down a sacrifice bunt. However, pitcher Brian Matusz’s (2-2) throw to first was wild, allowing Gardner to score from second. After Mark Teixeira walked to load the bases, Alex Rodriguez forced in a run with a bases loaded walk.
New York added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on Pena’s sacrifice fly RBI. Even though both teams combined for five runs, neither club managed a run-scoring hit. The Yankees and Orioles were a combined 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
New York will go for the sweep in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. David Hernandez (0-3, 4.55) will start for the Orioles, while the Yankees will counter with Andy Pettitte (3-0, 2.12). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET.
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