A LEG UP: David Robertson offers a pitch during his shutout inning against the Orioles last night. (AP)
BALTIMORE — It’s a good thing CC Sabathia has big shoulders.
When the Yankees ace takes the Camden Yards mound tonight, he’ll essentially be working without a bullpen after manager Joe Girardi was forced to use six relievers to secure a 5-4 win over the Orioles in 12 innings last night, witnessed by a cold gathering of 24,659.
In addition to using a half-dozen arms from the pen, Rafael Soriano tore the nail on his right middle finger warming up and may not be available tonight.
PHOTOS: YANKS BEAT ORIOLES IN 12
So with the Yankees looking for a sweep of the Birds to even their record at 3-3 going home, they will ask Sabathia not only for effectiveness but length.
The Yankees can call up an arm from the minors to back up Sabathia, but that means sending somebody out and with tomorrow dark on the schedule, the Yankees might use the off-day to recharge the arms that pitched so effectively last night.
“They were great,’’ Girardi said of David Phelps, David Robertson, Cory Wade, Clay Rapada and Mariano Rivera, who provided 7 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and allowed Raul Ibanez to be the hero in the 12th.
After Buck Showalter had Curtis Granderson walked intentionally to put runners at the corners with two outs in the 12th, the O’s manager could have walked Ibanez and asked Pedro Strop to face the weak-hitting Chris Stewart with the bases loaded.
Instead, Strop pitched to Ibanez and he crushed the first pitch to right-center, where it bounced on the track for a ground-rule double that scored Robinson Cano with the eventual game-winner.
All that was left was for Rivera to finish it, and he did.
“They were unbelievable,’’ starter Freddy Garcia said of the bullpen. “They picked me up. The kid has great stuff and he has confidence. That’s what we need.’’
Garcia, who threw five wild pitches in 4 2/3 innings, was referring to Phelps, who appeared in his second big-league game and retired all seven hitters; fanning four.
“I’m having the time of my life right now,’’ Phelps said. “So much is about first impressions in this game.’’
Wade was very impressed with his fellow righty from the pen.
“He doesn’t have any fear, he is obviously capable of pitching at this level,’’ Wade said.
Robertson took over from Phelps in the eighth and worked a scoreless frame. Boone Logan started the ninth and gave up a single to Nolan Reimold. Enter Wade, who pitched Saturday and Sunday against the Rays.
“Whatever you have to do, you take the ball and get outs until he comes and gets you,’’ said Wade, who went 2 1/3 scoreless innings in which he fanned four.
Clay Rapada recorded the final two outs in the 11th and then watched Ibanez end a frustrating night for Yankees hitters with runners in scoring position.
“These guys have made me feel like I belong,’’ Ibanez said. “I try to do what I can to help. It’s about winning ballgames.’’
Thanks to the bullpen, the Yankees were able to do that on a night when Garcia threw more wild pitches than innings and the Yankees went 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
Tonight, they can help Sabathia, who will be working without a safety net since Phelps, Wade and Rivera, who has pitched the last two games, will be unavailable.
george.king@nypost.com