Baltimore @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2012 ) NY Yankees 2, Baltimore 5
The Baltimore Orioles have dropped far off the pace in the American League East and two games back in the chase for the wild card, but they have a chance to make up ground in both races when they visit the New York Yankees for a three-game series beginning Monday night. Baltimore averted a three-game sweep with a 6-1 victory over Oakland on Sunday to pull into a tie for second place in the AL East, 7 1/2 games behind the Yankees.
New York has maintained a healthy cushion in the division despite losing seven of their last 10 games, including the final two games against bitter rival Boston. The Yankees continued to flex their muscles in the three-game series against the Red Sox, hitting seven homers in the series to boost their major league-leading total to 160. Ichiro Suzuki has hit safely in all six games since he was acquired from Seattle last week.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (2-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (4-4, 5.16)
Gonzalez, who will be making his fifth career start, has alternated wins and losses since being moved into the rotation. He had his worst outing last time out, getting shelled for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay. He has won both his road starts, allowing three runs in 13 2/3 innings. Gonzalez has served up six homers in four starts, an ominous sign against the Yankees.
Garcia will be making his sixth start since returning to the starting rotation at the beginning of the month. Although he has lost two straight starts, he is coming off a solid performance at Seattle last time out, striking out a season-high eight and giving up three runs in 7 1/3 innings. He is 6-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 19 career appearances (17 starts) vs. Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York extended its streak of hitting at least one homer at Yankee Stadium to 17 straight games.
2. The Orioles are 11-14 in July, snapping their streak of four straight winning months dating to September 2011.
3. New York has been atop the AL East for 47 straight days, the longest stretch since they were in first for the final 77 days of the 2009 season.