Raul Ibanez’s two homers not only turned what would have been a killer loss into a victory, it also glossed over the Yankees’ inability to hit for the second straight game.
Outside of a five-run rally in the ninth inning of Game 1, the Yankees have struggled with the Orioles’ pitching.
In Games 2 and 3 the Yankees have scored a combined five runs and are batting .211 (16-for-76).
Last night Miguel Gonzalez was the third Orioles starter to handcuff the Yankees. In seven innings the 27-year-old rookie allowed one run and five hits in his third outing against the Yankees this season.
“After the second time we faced him I thought he was the best pitcher I have seen all year,’’ said Eric Chavez, who went 0-for-3 against Gonzalez. “He has three pitches, a fastball, slider and split-finger. He has done it three times so it’s not a fluke.’’
* The Yankees are the only team to beat the Orioles in extra innings this year. Last night’s victory was the third time the Yankees have topped the Birds in extras. They did it on April 10-11 in Baltimore. The O’s went 16-for-16 in extra-inning games against every other team.
* Pete Rose believes his hits record his safe from Derek Jeter.
Jeter doesn’t seem to care.
“You really think I’m thinking about Pete Rose?” Jeter said before last night’s game. “The only person I’m thinking of catching is Yogi.”
Jeter wants to catch Berra’s record of 10 World Series rings. The shortstop could win his sixth if the Yankees win it all this season.
Rose, in an interview with the website Sports On Earth, said he thought Jeter, who ha 3,304 hits, had a long way to go to get to the magic number. Jeter agreed.
“That’s the least of my concerns right now,” he said. “I’m trying to win. That’s it.”
* Reggie Jackson was spotted in equipment manager Rob Cucuzza’s office before last night’s game. Jackson hadn’t been around the club since late July 22 after saying Alex Rodriguez’s numbers would be in question because of Rodriguez using performance enhancing drugs.