Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Mark Reynolds clubbed a two-run homer and Derrek Lee also went deep and finished with two RBI, and the Orioles held off the New York Yankees for the first time this season, 4-2, to start a four-game series.
Jeremy Guthrie (5-14) got a rare win against the Yankees. The right-hander came into the game 3-9 with a 5.66 ERA vs. New York, but picked up his first career victory at the new Yankee Stadium (1-3) thanks to limiting his opponents to four hits and a run while fanning five over seven innings.
The teams waited out a one-hour, 49-minute rain delay at the start, but it was the last-place Orioles who capitalized on pitching mistakes. Baltimore beat the Yankees for the first time in seven tries this season.
A.J. Burnett (8-9) had a season-high 10 strikeouts over eight innings, but remained winless (0-3) over his last five starts. He gave up five hits and four runs.
Mark Teixeira homered and Jorge Posada had a pair of hits for the Yankees, who lost for just the sixth time in their last 23 home games.
The Yankees threatened to tie the game in the ninth inning, but Kevin Gregg managed to escape trouble after allowing one run to earn his 17th save of the year. Robinson Cano doubled past a diving Reynolds at third to start the bottom of the ninth. Gregg then served up an RBI double to left from Nick Swisher, but Eric Chavez flied out. Posada walked and Russell Martin then ran the count to 3-0, but grounded into a force play, placing runners at the corners.
Brett Gardner turned to walk to first base after taking a 3-1 pitch seemingly outside, but home plate umpire Mike DiMuro signaled strike. Gardner then busted his bat in the dirt in frustration after swinging through the next pitch to end the game.
“This game at times can be frustrating,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It just shows you the passion he has. I have no problem with it at all.”
Lee walked with one out in the second, leading to Reynolds’ 22nd homer of the year, a shot to right-center field on a first offering from Burnett.
The Yankees wasted an opportunity with two men on base in the third, and the O’s expanded their lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero laced a ground-rule double with one out and Lee then doubled to center past the outstretched glove of Curtis Granderson.
“Derrek’s in a good spot right now swinging the bat,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Guthrie walked two batters in the fourth, but retired Chavez on a ground ball to end the threat.
Lee homered to right with two outs in the sixth, but Teixeira went deep for the 29th time in the bottom of the frame.
Orioles reliever Koji Uehara left Derek Jeter stranded at second in the eighth when he got Teixeira to fly out to cap the inning.
The teams will play a day/night doubleheader Saturday.