HUFF IS GRAND
Aubrey Huff leaned a little to his left, as if he would somehow be able to dictate that the ball stayed fair. But he needn't have worried. Huff's third-inning grand slam off Yankees starter Jeff Karstens landed a couple of rows to the left of the foul pole, settling into the upper deck in right field for his third career grand slam. It also was his ninth home run of the season and his third in 10 games after going 26 games without one. He finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs, one shy of his career high.
MILLAR CALLS SHOT
Kevin Millar stood near the middle of the clubhouse hours before last night's game, swinging his bat. When he made eye contact with a few reporters, he predicted he would be going deep during the game. Sure enough, Millar hammered Ron Villone's pitch into the left-field seats in the seventh inning. Millar's 12th home run highlighted a 3-for-3 night that included an RBI, four runs scored and reaching base all five times.
CABRERA IN CONTROL
The last time Daniel Cabrera pitched at Yankee Stadium last September, he came within two outs of no-hitting the Yankees. He wasn't as dominant last night, but he did turn in one of the most effective outings of the season. Cabrera pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only two hits. He did walk six, tying a season high. But he mostly nullified the walks with five strikeouts. He improved to 9-12 this season.
ON DECK
Erik Bedard (12-4, 3.11), who is unbeaten in his past 11 starts, will get the ball in the series finale this afternoon against the Yankees. Rookie right-hander Phil Hughes (2-1, 4.64) will oppose him, facing the Orioles for the first time in his career. Bedard is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA against the Yankees, who haven't scored on the Orioles' ace left-hander in 13 consecutive innings. In 10 career games against New York, Bedard is 4-3 with a 4.10 ERA.