At Yankee Stadium, New York

Day .. .. .. ...Time .. .. .. ..TV .. .. .. .. .. ..Starters

Tonight .. .. ..7:05 .. .. ...13, 20 .. .. .. Sid Fernandez (6-6, 5.09)

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .vs. Sterling Hitchcock (4-1,

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .4.04)

Tomorrow night .8:05 .. .. ...13, 50 .. .. ..Jamie Moyer (4-7, 4.72)

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. vs. Jim Abbott (9-7, 4.36)

Wednesday night 7:35 .. .. .. ..HTS.. .. .. .Ben McDonald (13-7,

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... .. ...4.20) vs. Jimmy Key

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (17-3, 3.19)

Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)

Yankees update Yankees statistics

The Yankees (69-40), who have the best record in the American League, have lost their past two after an eight-game winning streak. New York has dropped consecutive games for the first time since July 9-10, and has lost back-to-back road games for the first time since June 9-10. The Yankees' major problem has been starting pitching. Jimmy Key is their only starter to pitch past the sixth inning in the Yankees' past four games. During that span, New York starters have given up 27 hits in 24 innings and have a 5.63 ERA. The Yankees have relied on consistent hitting, mainly from the top half of the order. The Yankees batted .319 as a team for the past six games. They averaged 6.6 runs a game and had 24 extra-base hits. Leadoff hitter Luis Polonia, who entered yesterday's game in the sixth inning, extended his streak of multiple-hit games to five. Right fielder Paul O'Neill, No. 3 in the order, had 10 hits in 26 at-bats (.385) on the Yankees' road trip. The Yankees, who will face left-handers in two of three games against the Orioles, are 20-14 against left-handed starters and reached Minnesota left-hander Carlos Pulido for three runs in five innings yesterday.