Orioles Edge Yankees, Even Series
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Rob Carr/Getty Images(BALTIMORE) — Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson struggled in Game 1 against the New York Yankees. In Game 2, it was a much different story.
Johnson pitched a pefect ninth inning for the save, Wei-Yin Chen got the better of Andy Pettite, and the Orioles evened up the ALDS at one game apiece with a 3-2 victory Monday night at Camden Yards.
Down 1-0 in the third inning, right fielder Chris Davis lined a two-run single to right field off Yankees starter Andy Pettite to give the O’s a 2-1 lead. Baltimore would tack on an insurance run in the sixth when Mark Reynolds singled home a run to make it 3-1.
“It means everything,” Davis said of the victory. “You definitely don’t want to go into New York in a five-game series down two games. This is big — having the day off tomorrow, hopefully building some momentum, and we can take that into New York.”
The three runs were enough for Chen, who went six and one-third innings, allowing only two runs. Johnson then rebounded from giving up a go-ahead home run to Yankees catcher Russel Martin the night before to close out the side in order in the ninth. With the win, the Orioles will head to New York tied in the best of five series.
Pettite went seven innings for the Yankees, who could not cash in with runners at first and third with two outs in the seventh inning when outfielder Nick Swisher struck out against reliever Brian Matusz.
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