Orioles drop third in a row, to Yankees, 11-4

By Jeff Zrebiec | jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

May 21, 2009

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NEW YORK — - It isn't even July yet, though the past two nights here have certainly had that bitter feel to the Orioles, for whom lopsided losses and long swoons have become an annual rite of late summer.

The Orioles are still not a quarter into their season, but things are getting progressively worse as May unfolds. In another humbling defeat to the surging New York Yankees, this one by an 11-4 score Wednesday night, Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie gave up three consecutive home runs in the second inning before steadying himself to get through seven innings.

For a second straight night, Orioles relievers and a defensive miscue by fill-in shortstop Robert Andino contributed to a tight late-inning game morphing into a rout. And in what is happening too often lately, the Orioles' once explosive lineup was overpowered at times by Yankees starter Phil Hughes, who entered the game with a 7.56 ERA and had given up eight earned runs and gotten just five outs against the Orioles 11 days earlier.

Hughes struck out nine batters, including the Orioles' No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters - Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff - six times in eight at-bats.

"I think when you're going bad, that's what happens," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, speaking in general about his team's latest loss. "And when you're going good, the other team is the beneficiary of every possible thing that they could possibly get."

The Orioles have lost three straight games and four of the past five to fall to a season-worst eight games under .500. The Yankees have won eight straight and are a season-high six games over .500. Having been outscored 20-5 in the series, the Orioles (16-24) will try to avoid the sweep Thursday.

"I'm not worried about their team. I'm worried about my team," said Jones, who was 2-for-4 with a solo home run. "They're finding their hits right now. We're not right now. Hopefully [today] is a different game."

Ty Wigginton also hit a two-run shot for the Orioles.

Guthrie certainly was reminded of how powerful New York's lineup can be in the second inning, when the first three Yankees he faced deposited pitches into the right-field seats. Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano connected for the first two, their shots landing just a couple of rows into the extremely hitter-friendly right-field porch. Melky Cabrera then belted the Yankees' third consecutive homer, his ball soaring into the second deck.

"The first two were fly balls," Orioles catcher Chad Moeller said. "They may not even make it to the track at our yard. ... That's just what the park is."

It was the first time in Guthrie's career that he had given up three home runs in a game. It also marked just the 11th time in the Yankees' storied history that they went back-to-back-to-back with homers.

"Every single one of them, the ball was up, and if you leave the ball up in the arena you have a chance to have it hit for a home run," Guthrie said.

Guthrie (3-4) salvaged his outing somewhat by closing it with four consecutive scoreless innings and retiring 12 of the final 13 hitters that he faced, the exception being Mark Teixeira (Mount St. Joseph), who was hit in the back with a fastball in the fifth inning.

Guthrie left with his team trailing 5-3, but the Yankees scored six times in the eighth off Danys Baez and Jamie Walker.

Rookie outfielder Nolan Reimold did give the Orioles one thing to feel good about with his first major league home run, a solo shot off Mariano Rivera in the ninth.

"To let them jump out to a five-run lead, it's disappointing," said Guthrie, who has given up five earned runs or more in three starts this season after allowing that total only four times in 30 starts last year. "If it's not 5-0, maybe we have a better ballgame and have a chance to win this tonight."