Yankees Win Again

NEW YORK (AP) - Robinson Cano helped New York race out to a big
lead after losing Joba Chamberlain to a leg injury in the first
inning, driving in three runs as the Yankees beat the Baltimore
Orioles 7-4 on Thursday night for their ninth straight win.
Cano hit an RBI double in New York's four-run first and a
two-run shot in the second. Melky Cabrera, subbing for a sore
Johnny Damon, had a two-run double in the first and Hideki Matsui
connected in the fifth to give Yankee Stadium the record for most
homers in a ballpark's first 20 games.
Mariano Rivera tossed a perfect ninth inning for his 57th save
against Baltimore, his most against any team. It also was career
save No. 491, his second in two days and his ninth in 10
opportunities this season.
New York last won nine in a row June 5-14, 2007.
Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis went deep for the Orioles, who
have lost four straight and five of six. Ty Wigginton hit a two-run
double in the sixth to end an 0-for-16 skid by Baltimore pinch
hitters to open the season.
Chamberlain didn't last very long in his first start against the
Orioles since Aubrey Huff mocked him with two exaggerated fist
pumps while he rounded the bases following a three-run homer off
the demonstrative right-hander on May 10.
Adam Jones' one-out liner in the first inning hit Chamberlain
just above his right knee. He threw to first to retire the center
fielder, took a few shaky steps near the mound then bent over as
manager Joe Girardi and trainer Gene Monahan came out of the
dugout.
After a short conference, Chamberlain threw a couple of warmup
pitches and remained in the game. Markakis then singled ahead of
Huff, who was booed each time he came to the plate and dumped
Chamberlain's second pitch into the right-field corner for another
single.
That brought Girardi and Monahan out to the mound again and this
time Chamberlain walked gingerly toward the dugout. Alfredo Aceves
(3-0) then got Melvin Mora to fly out to end the inning.
The Yankees said X-rays on Chamberlain's bruised right knee were
negative. It was unclear if the injury was severe enough to force
him to miss a start.
Derek Jeter, Cano and Mark Teixeira opened the bottom half of
the first with consecutive doubles off Adam Eaton (2-5) to give the
Yankees a 2-0 lead. Cabrera came up with his big hit after Eaton
walked Nick Swisher with two outs.
Markakis' solo shot in the seventh was the 75th at New York's
$1.5 billion stadium, putting it two ahead of the previous mark for
the first 20 games at a new park. Puerto Rico's Hiram Bithorn
Stadium was the record holder, according to the Elias Sports
Bureau.