The Yankees play two and they win two over the Orioles

The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles twice on Saturday. They beat them once Saturday afternoon and then again on Saturday night. It was a really good day for the Yankees offense as they won 8-3 and 17-3. Bartolo Colon started the first game and he labored through it but he was able to pick up the win. The bullpen did a good job also in the first game with four innings of work. The offense was paced by Nick Swisher who had three hits. The bottom of the order did all the damage with Chris Dickerson, Eric Chavez and Francisco Cervelli all having good games. In the night cap it was over before it started as the Yankees set a franchise record with 12 runs in the first inning. Ivan Nova started after about a month of being in the minors due to Phil Hughes rejoining the team. Nova even though he was spotted to a big lead looked good. He pitched seven strong innings.
Colon pitched five innings giving up five hits and two runs. He picked up his eighth win of the season. He walked two and struck out six. Cory Wade pitched three innings giving up two hits and one run and he struck out two and Boone Logan pitched an inning giving up two hits and he struck out a batter. In the night game Nova pitched seven innings giving up six hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out six. Nova earned his ninth win of the season and his ERA stands at 4.01. Luis Ayala pitched an inning giving up three hits and one run and Rafael Soriano made his return with a perfect inning and two strikeouts.

In the first game Brett Gardner had a hit and two RBI, Robinson Cano had a walk and Swisher had three hits and two RBI. Chavez had two hits and an RBI, Jorge Posada had a hit and an RBI and Dickerson had two hits and an RBI. Cervelli had two hits an RBI and a walk. Cervelli and Swisher had doubles and Swisher had a homerun. The Yankees were 4-9 with runners in scoring position and they left six men on base. Dickerson had a stolen base. Nunez made a throwing error which was his 14th error of the season.

In the second game there were plenty of offensive heroes. Derek Jeter had two hits and two RBI, Curtis Granderson had four hits and Mark Teixeira had three hits, two RBI and a walk. Robinson Cano had five hits and five RBI, Swisher had three hits and three RBI to continue his great day and Andruw Jones had two hits, two RBI and a walk. Russell Martin had two hits, an RBI and a walk, Nunez had two hits and an RBI and Gardner had a hit, RBI and a walk. Jones, Teixeira, Cano, Martin and Granderson each had a double. Nunez had a triple and Swisher and Jones had homeruns. The Yankees were 12-25 with runners in scoring position and they left 11 men on base.

The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first game which is the highest single total in an inning of the season. It was also the most they have ever scored in an inning. Nova pitched well and it will be interesting to see what the Yankees do now. It looks like for now they will have them both make a start next week and push back Colon and Garcia a day to give them extra rest. The Yankees are currently two games behind the AL East leading Boston Red Sox. They are five games ahead of the Anaheim Angels for the wild card and seven games ahead in the loss column.