The Baltimore Orioles try to get even closer to the New York Yankees in the American League East standings this evening when they continue a three-game set at Yankee Stadium.
Baltimore narrowed its deficit to 6 1/2 games by winning Monday's opener, as Nick Markakis drove in two runs among three hits, Wilson Betemit homered and the Orioles held on for a 5-4 victory.
Miguel Gonzalez (3-2) gave up four runs on six hits, including a trio of solo home runs, in 6 2/3 innings. The rookie right-hander struck out eight and issued no walks.
Jim Johnson stranded two men in scoring position in the ninth to record his 31st save of the season. Johnson surrendered a leadoff double to Nick Swisher and walked Eric Chavez with one out. After Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a fielder's choice and stole second, Johnson fanned Russell Martin to end the game.
"Our hitting was great tonight," Gonzalez said. "(Matt) Wieters did a great job back there. Obviously, I kept the team in the game, a couple mistakes hurt me, but good thing we won it."
Chavez, Suzuki and Raul Ibanez homered for New York, which has dropped eight of 11. Chavez added an RBI single.
Freddy Garcia (4-5) allowed three runs on nine hits over six frames to absorb his 100th career loss.
To make maters worse New York first baseman Mark Teixeira left the game in the eighth with a left wrist injury. He suffered the injury diving for a ball and will have an MRI Tuesday.
"I'm not crazy concerned because I've tried to play through it," Teixeira said. "It's one of those things if you really hurt yourself bad you're out and you can't do much. I was kind of nursing it today when I was swinging. Hopefully it's just a couple of days and I can get back out there."
Heading to the hill for the Orioles will be righty Chris Tillman, who has been terrific in winning three of his four starts, while pitching to a 1.66 ERA. Tillman beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
"Tilly's a tough guy," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He competes. There's a lot of things to like about him. And I think, hopefully, he's starting to grasp that."
He is 1-3 in five starts versus the Yankees with an 8.71 ERA.
New York, meanwhile, will rely on righty Ivan Nova, who is 10-4 with a 4.08 ERA. Nova did not get a decision on Wednesday in Seattle, but struggled with his command, despite giving up two runs and two hits in five innings, as he walked six batters.
"I didn't really have my fastball command today," Nova said afterward. "I fell behind the hitters the whole game. Six walks; it wasn't a good day for me."
He has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his last 11 outings dating back to June 6, but has won just one time in his last seven starts.
Nova has faced the O's seven times and is 3-1 against them with a 4.50 ERA.
New York has won five of its nine meetings with the Orioles this season, but Baltimore is 3-1 in the Bronx.
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