Game 45 Recap-
The New York Yankees bats have come to life with the return of MVP 3b Alex Rodriquez and they made the Orioles pay Wednesday night, losing 8-0. Arod had 3 hits and 2 rbi, including his 2nd homer in consecutive game. He also had another homer taken away by a bad call in the 6th.
Pitching wise, young Yankees RH SP Darrell Rasner was the story. Over 7 innings, he allowed only 5 hits and struck out 6 with 1 walk. RH RP Joba Chamberlain was stretched out over the last 2 innings but struck out 3. New York management disclosed post game that the power reliever would convert to the starting rotation sometime this season and this was step 1 in that process.
Young Orioles LH SP Garrett Olson(3-1, 5.19) had been a pleasant surprise but was kicked around the park tonight. After giving up 3 runs in the 2nd(2b Robinson Cano double,C Chad Moeller single and SS Derek Jeter ground out), ARod homered to left center. LF Johnny Damon followed with a 2 run single and Olson hit the showers. His first appearance in Yankee stadium was not pretty, over 2 2/3 innings, he allowed 8 hits, 6 runs and walked 2. He struck out 1 batter.
Baltimore did next to nothing on offense all night and only rookie SS Freddie Bynum had an extra base hit.(double vs Rasner) NY scored 2 more runs in the 6th and it should have been more but the umpires blew an obvious Arod homer call and gave him a double instead.
Star of the Game-
Rasner- Shut the Orioles down cold
Orioles Notes-
3b Melvin Mora left the game in the 3rd with an apparent right hand injury….Bullpen pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed only 1 earned run
Next Game-
Thursday, 7:05 Yankee Stadium
Orioles LH Brian Burress(4-4,3.47) vs Yankees RH Ian Kennedy(0-3,8.48)
