Yankees Cruise Past Orioles Behind Small, Matsui

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

BALTIMORE – Aaron Small’s outstanding pitching moved the Yankees closer to their eighth consecutive AL East title.


Small took a one-hitter into the seventh inning to improve to 10-0, and the Yankees got homers from Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui in cruising past the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 last night.


The victory maintained the Yankees’ division lead at one game over the second-place Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Toronto Blue Jays at one game, New York headed to Fenway Park for a season-ending three-game series beginning Friday night.


Alex Rodriguez had two hits and scored twice for the Yankees, who built an 8-0 lead in winning for the 15th time in 18 games.


Small gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking five. After breezing through the first six innings, the right-hander gave up a two-run homer to Javy Lopez in the seventh.


Small has not allowed a first-inning run in any of his nine starts.


The Orioles then loaded the bases with two outs before Tanyon Sturtze retired Chris Gomez on a grounder.


Small has won his last five starts, including two straight against Baltimore


Lopez homered for the third time in three games, and Jay Gibbons also connected for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 12.


Despite the loss, Baltimore is assured of finishing no worse than fourth in the AL East due to Tampa Bay’s 6-0 defeat in Cleveland. But avoiding the cellar is not exactly what the Orioles had in mind when they led the division on June 23.


New York took control in the first inning against Erik Bedard (6-8), who needed 40 pitches to retire the side. After a walk to Derek Jeter and a single by Rodriguez, Giambi drove a 3-2 pitch over the 25-foot scoreboard onto Eutaw Street, a shot estimated at 425 feet.


Bedard then walked Gary Sheffield, who scored on a two-out single by Ruben Sierra.


The Yankees made it 5-0 in the second when Robinson Cano hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out single by Sheffield.


Bedard allowed five runs, five hits, and three walks in two innings. After going 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his first nine games, he returned from a two-month stint on the disabled list (knee) to go 1-7 with a 5.44 ERA over his last 15 starts.


Small issued three straight two-out walks in the third before striking out Melvin Mora on three pitches.


The Yankees made it 6-0 in the fifth when Jorge Posada drew a bases-loaded walk from James Baldwin. Matsui hit his 22nd homer in the seventh, a two-run shot off Jorge Julio on a 3-0 pitch.


Gibbons hit his 25th with a runner on against Sturtze in the eighth. Tom Gordon got two quick outs to end the inning, and Scott Proctor worked a scoreless ninth – allowing closer Mariano Rivera to rest for the Boston series.


Baltimore finished 36-45 at home and drew 2,624,740 fans. New York won the season series 11-7.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use