NEW YORK —  Bobby Abreu hit a pair of homers while getting a day off from the field, Alex Rodriguez also went deep and the New York Yankees pounded the Baltimore Orioles 13-3 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Abreu also doubled and had three RBIs as the designated hitter, and A-Rod and Xavier Nady each had two hits for the Yankees. New York had been outscored 20-10 the first two games of the series, but still hasn't been swept by the Orioles in a three-game set at Yankee Stadium since 1986.

Mixing an improving slider with an overpowering fastball, Joba Chamberlain retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced to win consecutive starts for the first time in his young career. He gave up two runs _ only one was earned _ and five hits in six innings, striking out six without a walk.

Chamberlain (4-3) has allowed only two earned runs over his last three starts covering 19 innings.

Things aren't going to get any easier than that for the Yankees, who begin a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Forty-one of their final 55 games are against teams at or above .500.

Taking the ball in place of Brian Burres just a short drive from where he grew up, Baltimore right-hander Dennis Sarfate struggled with control and got little help from his defense in his first big league start.

By the time Sarfate (4-2) left after four innings, the career reliever had allowed five runs _ three earned _ and two hits with three walks.

Derek Jeter and Abreu drew two-out walks in the first before Rodriguez roped a base hit to right field. Nick Markakis tried to nab the Yankees' captain at home, but his throw sailed high and Abreu followed to the plate, deftly sliding around the tag of catcher Guillermo Quiroz.

Moments later, Rodriguez came home on a passed ball to make it 3-1.

The Orioles got one back in the third on an RBI single by Markakis, but the Yankees wasted no time _ and seemingly no energy _ in pulling away.

Taking a break from the outfield, Abreu drove a 2-1 pitch from Sarfate off the foul pole in right with Johnny Damon aboard to make it 5-2 in the third.

New York added four more in the sixth, getting run-scoring hits from Jason Giambi and Nady. Erratic reliever Fernando Cabrera then issued a bases-loaded walk to Melky Cabrera and threw a wild pitch to Jeter, giving the Yankees a 9-2 cushion.

Abreu added a solo shot in the eighth for his 12th career multihomer game and first as a member of the Yankees, and Rodriguez followed with a homer to right, the third time New York has gotten back-to-back homers this season.

Juan Castro hit a pinch-hit homer in the eighth for Baltimore, his first of the year.

The teams became testy in the seventh when Yankees reliever Edwar Ramirez threw his first pitch over the head of Kevin Millar. Evidently thinking the pitch was in response to A-Rod getting plunked Tuesday night, plate umpire Mark Wegner immediately ejected Ramirez.

Orioles reliever Alberto Castillo hit Jose Molina in the eighth but the pitcher remained in the game without so much as a warning, drawing a hearty round of boos from the crowd.

Notes:@ Yankees C Jorge Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday. Rehab time is about six months, meaning he could be back when pitchers and catchers report for spring training. ... Orioles LF Luke Scott fouled a pitch off his shin in the second but stayed in the game. ... Baltimore is 7-5 on the year against the Yankees after having not won a season series against them since 1997. The teams play six more times this season.

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