Preview: Orioles Vs. Yankees
(AP) -- After some long-overdue dominance against the New York Yankees in 2014, the Baltimore Orioles will get their first crack at their division foe this season on the heels of a high-scoring, unsuccessful series.
Baltimore could again find itself in a slugfest Monday night should the Yankees replicate the offensive outburst they showcased their last time out.
The Orioles (3-3) scored 19 total runs in their weekend set with Toronto, but surrendered 23 to drop two of three. Chris Tillman struggled in Sunday's 10-7 loss, allowing seven runs - three earned - in 2 2-3 innings.
Adam Jones went 7 for 10 with two home runs and five RBIs over the three-game series, while Travis Snider hit his first home run - a three-run shot - as an Oriole on Sunday, redeeming himself from a costly defensive gaffe earlier in the contest.
"If we win that game, everybody's feeling good, so it's not about what I'm doing, it's what we're doing as a team," Snider told the Orioles' official website. "And I'd like to come out of it with a series win."
Manager Buck Showalter will turn to Wei-Yin Chen against the Yankees (2-4), who Baltimore went 13-6 against last season - the first season-series win over New York since 1997.
Chen's five-game run to end last season featured a 2.05 ERA in 30 2-3 innings and should inspire plenty of confidence from Baltimore's dugout, although that may be somewhat undone following a shaky outing to open the year.
The left-hander was chased after 4 1-3 innings at Tampa Bay on Tuesday, allowing three runs, four hits and two walks in Baltimore's 6-5 win.
Chen is 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees. He's especially struggled against the top of New York's order, with Brett Gardner going 5 for 14 with a homer and two doubles in their matchups, while Jacoby Ellsbury is 6 for 13.
He'll be opposed by Michael Pineda, who has been excellent against the Orioles in his career, posting a 1.78 ERA and striking out 25 over 25 1-3 innings in four starts.
The right-hander was sharp in his season debut against Toronto on Wednesday, pitching six innings and surrendering two runs while walking one and striking out six before leaving without a decision in a 4-3 win.
He'll hope for the same run support teammate Masahiro Tanaka enjoyed Sunday night against Boston. New York jumped on the Red Sox for seven runs in the first inning en route to a 14-4 rout to avoid a three-game sweep.
"It was important to get going and have a game like this, where everybody hits," Brian McCann told the Yankees' official website. "We needed it. We know we have a good offense."
Chase Headley went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs, McCann hit his 200th career homer and Alex Rodriguez drove in four as the Yankees avoided their first 1-5 start since 1989.
"We would like to have won more than two (games), but all we can do is win the game that's in front of us," Headley said. "We'll enjoy tonight and be back at it tomorrow. It's kind of a weight off the back."
Rodriguez is batting .361 with four homers and eight RBIs in his last 10 games at Camden Yards.
