Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - An inconsistent Javier Vazquez bounced back from a poor start to toss seven innings of one-run ball and a Miguel Tejada two-run error in the seventh handed the Yankees a 3-1 win over Baltimore in the opener of a three-game series.
Javier Vazquez Allows One Run In Seven Innings, As Yankees Beat Orioles 3-1
Curtis Granderson hit his first home run since April 7 -- a stretch of 81 at- bats -- and Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2- for-4 effort -- his seventh consecutive multi-hit game.
Vazquez (4-5) scattered four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk, Joba Chamberlain worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Mariano Rivera shut the door in the ninth for his 11th save in New York's third straight win.
Baltimore's Brian Matusz (2-6) continued to endure a trying season, losing his sixth consecutive decision despite allowing a single earned run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Tejada's error with two outs pushed his line to three runs allowed.
Corey Patterson homered to account for the offense as the Orioles' losing streak reached six games.
Baltimore crossed the plate a mere three times in three consecutive defeats at Toronto over the weekend and has scored just 10 runs over the course of its current slide.
The duel between Vazquez and Matusz spilled into the seventh with the game knotted at one. Derek Jeter, who collected two hits on the evening, singled to right off the O's starter and Nick Swisher drew a walk. Both moved up on a Juan Miranda groundout and David Hernandez came on with two away.
Alex Rodriguez hit a bouncer to third and Tejada one-hopped the throw to first, handcuffing Ty Wigginton and allowing two runs to cross the plate.
The Yankee bullpen took care of business from there, with Luke Scott's ninth- inning single serving as the lone Baltimore baserunner.
The game remained scoreless until Granderson led off the fifth with only his third homer on the year. Patterson, though, answered in kind an inning later with two outs to tie things up.
New York had a chance for more in its sixth-inning at-bat, but Granderson struck out with runners at first and third to end the frame. Baltimore went on to load the bases with one out in the seventh before Vazquez fanned Adam Jones and retired Julio Lugo on a force play at second.
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira left the game after fouling a pitch off his left foot. The injury has been labeled a bruised left foot, and x-rays were negative. Miranda took over fielding duties at first to start the top of the fourth...Matusz struck out five and walked three. The O's have lost in each of his last eight outings...Baltimore was swept in a three- game set at Yankee Stadium from May 3-5. The Yankees have now won six straight in the series and are 19-4 in the last 23 overall encounters...The Orioles have also dropped six straight on the road and 10 of their last 11...Scott had two hits for the O's...New York improved to 4-1 on its seven- game homestand...Cano is batting .453 with eight doubles, two homers and 17 RBI over his streak...Jeter has six consecutive multi-hit games and collected his 450th career double in the win. It broke a tie with Bernie Williams for second place on the club's all-time list.
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