Leading 7-3 with one out in the bottom of the ninth, New York appeared to roll to an easy win and series sweep of Baltimore. However, the Orioles brought the go-ahead run to the plate before the Yankees held on for a 7-5 win. The win marked the fourth time since 2008 that the Yankees have swept a three-game series at home against the Orioles.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold hit back-to-back home runs off Yankees reliever David Robertson. After Boone Logan recorded an out and walked two, Alfredo Aceves induced Ty Wigginton to fly out to right to end the game. With Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain unavailable, Aceves earned his first save of the season.
New York jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run in each of the first three innings off Baltimore starter David Hernandez (0-4). Nick Johnson hit his second home run of the season in the first, and Nick Swisher added a solo home run in the second. Alex Rodriguez contributed a run-scoring single in the third. Hernandez allowed six runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched.
After Baltimore hit into inning-ending double plays in the first and second innings, the Orioles scratched across a run in the fourth. Andy Pettitte (4-0) loaded the bases with one out and forced in a run by walking Reimold.
Pettitte earned the win after limiting Baltimore to one run and six hits over five innings. He also struck out two and walked two. Pettitte also improved to 4-0 in afternoon games this season.
After Baltimore scored in the top of the fourth, New York immediately answered. With runners at second and third and one out, Brett Gardner scored on Derek Jeter’s RBI fielder’s choice. After Johnson walked, Mark Teixeira doubled to deep right center that was just out of the reach of center fielder Lou Montanez.
With New York leading 6-1 in the top of the eighth, Wigginton blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall to cut the Baltimore deficit to three.
However, the Yankees added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. After Randy Winn singled and stole second base, he scored on a single by Johnson that went off the glove of Wigginton at second base. Johnson, who entered the game batting .134, was 3-for-3 with an RBI.
After an off day on Thursday, New York will return to Fenway Park on Friday. The Yankees took two-of-three from the Red Sox in the season-opening series. Phil Hughes (3-0, 1.44) will start for New York, while Josh Beckett (1-0, 6.31) will pitch for Boston. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
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