Yankees Power Over Orioles 8-5

The Yankees (78-60) and the Orioles (77-61) played the second game of a four game series on Friday night with the top spot in the AL East on the line. The Yankees came out on top 8-5 thanks to three long balls from the Yankee offense and solid pitching from Phil Hughes.

In the fourth inning with two men on Russell Martin muscled a three run shot down the left field line off of Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen. It was Martin’s 16^th of the season and put the Yankees up 3-0. The Yankees weren’t done in the inning, Andruw Jones followed the home run with a single then Steve Pearce blasted a two run home run. It was Pearce’s fourth of the season, first with the Yankees.

In the fifth inning Alex Rodriguez hit a two run bomb to left center field, his 16^th of the year. The homer put the Yankees up 7-0 and knocked Chen out of the game. Chen went 4 2/3 gave up seven runs on six hits and struck out four.

The Orioles didn’t get on the board until the sixth inning, when Adam Jones hit a three run home run off of Phil Hughes. It was Jones second in as many games and his 29^th of the season. Hughes went six innings gave up three runs (2 earned) and struck out five. The win puts him at 14-12.

The Orioles added a run in the seventh when Robert Andino hit a solo homer off of Cody Eppely and another in the ninth when Manny Machado hit a solo home run off of Rafael Soriano.

The Yankees will play again on Saturday night. C.C. Sabathia (13-4 3.42) will start for the Yankees while Joe Saunders (1-1 4.63) goes for the Orioles. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30, first pitch at 7:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.