Yanks rough up Orioles 9-1

[June 03, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson hit two-run doubles in the second inning to back another stingy start by Phil Hughes, and the New York Yankees handed the Baltimore Orioles their seventh straight loss, 9-1 on Wednesday night.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer in the seventh and ran his hitting streak to 16 games for New York, which had 14 hits. Jorge Posada returned to the lineup after sitting out since May 16 with a broken bone in his right foot and went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Fielding a nearly complete opening-day lineup for the first time in several weeks, the Yankees pounced on Brad Beregesen (3-4) for six runs in 2 1-3 innings and beat Baltimore for the seventh straight time.

After needing help from a two-run throwing error to defeat the hapless Orioles 3-1 on Tuesday night, the Yankees sprayed seven hits to all fields in scoring four runs in the second inning and two in the third in winning their fourth straight.

Cano had a single in each inning, and Brett Gardner hit a sacrifice fly and Francisco Cervelli drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch behind his left shoulder with the bases loaded.

Hughes (7-1) did the rest against an offense that has scored only 11 runs during their skid.

The right-hander scattered six hits and a walk, striking out seven in his second straight strong start after stumbling for two outings. He allowed one run in seven innings and has given up one run or less in five of his 10 starts.

Ty Wigginton had an RBI single in the sixth after he struck out in the fourth on a checked swing call by first base umpire Mike DiMuro. Still in the batter's box, Wigginton waved his bat over his head in frustration at DiMuro, who gestured to Wigginton to get off the field.

Frustration abounds for the Orioles -- manager Dave Trembley said after Tuesday's loss, "I think we're way past asking if I'm frustrated and disappointed" -- who have lost nine of 10 and are two losses from matching their nine-loss skid from April 9-17.

The Orioles, who came in batting .221 with runners in scoring position, were 1 for 9 in that situation.

With one out in the seventh, Scott Moore lined a shot off second base umpire Tim Welke's hip in shallow center field. The crew chief jogged it off and took his position.

After Cano singled to lead off the second, Posada, as the designated hitter, walked. He showed off his healed right foot, nearly catching Cano racing around third base as the two scored on Granderson's double to left-center. Granderson was caught in a rundown when he tried to score from third on Derek Jeter's grounder. Swisher drove in Gardner and Jeter to make it 4-0. Swisher had an RBI single in the eighth.

In the eighth, Nick Markakis lost an RBI when he doubled to left-center but Miguel Tejada, who singled, was nailed at home on a perfect relay from Gardner to Ramiro Pena, in as a defensive replacement at shortstop. Cervelli made a sliding sweep tag to get Tejada on Pena's throw.

Tejada was removed from the game by Trembley for the bottom of the eighth.

NOTES: The Yankees optioned 1B-DH Juan Miranda to Triple-A/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Posada. ... Orioles reliever Mike Gonzalez (strained left shoulder) had a bullpen session. He threw 25-30 pitches. Gonzalez will take Friday off before throwing about 40 pitches Saturday.

[Associated Press; By HOWIE RUMBERG]

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