Josh Rupe made the Orioles' roster in spring training by allowing only two runs in 14 2/3 innings. If I'm remembering correctly, he hadn't been scored upon until his final appearance. Rupe served up Alex Rodriguez's 22nd career grand slam in the eighth inning tonight, increasing the Yankees' lead to 13-3. He let three inherited runners score after replacing Clay Rapada, who replaced Jason Berken. Rodriguez was his responsibility, and he's now surrendered six runs in 8 1/3...

Alex Rodriguez hit his 22nd career grand slam and had a six-RBI night as the New York Yankees pounded the Orioles 15-3 in the first game of a rain-shortened, two-game series at Camden Yards. His slam, which came on a 2-0 pitch in the eighth off Josh Rupe, was New York's fifth homer of the night and third of that inning. Rodriguez also had a two-run double in the first when New York took a 3-0 lead against Brad Bergesen. Rodriguez moved past Manny Ramirez on the all-time grand slam list and...

Now I'm a little worried. Russell Martin's three-run homer off Brad Bergesen in the sixth inning has given the Yankees a 6-0 lead. Jason Berken was warming in the Orioles' bullpen as Martin came to the plate. Meanwhile, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is dominating the Orioles again. He's allowed only one hit, a Derrek Lee single in the fourth. That's the only baserunner of the night. Sabathia is throwing everything for strikes. He struck out Mark Reynolds looking at a changeup and...

After the Yankees' early offense, this game has settled into a pitchers' duel. Brad Bergesen gave up four hits to the first five hitters he faced tonight and has allowed just two to the last 17 batters he has faced. Bergesen has really settled in and, after needing 26 pitches to get through New York's three-run first, has needed just 52 pitches from the second through fifth innings. But the way C.C. Sabathia has pitched, those three runs in the first may be more than enough tonight. He...

Brad Bergesen has retired 11 of 13 batters since Robinson Cano's run-scoring single in the first inning. Brett Gardner doubled with one out in the second and Russell Martin walked with two outs in the fourth for the only Yankees' baserunners. Jake Fox made a diving catch in left field to rob Jorge Posada in the fourth. Stop picking on his defense. CC Sabathia has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three. The Orioles have gotten one ball out of the infield. Former...

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead only 10 pitches into tonight's game. Single, fly ball, double, double. Groan. Now the Orioles are playing from behind against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, who's 14-2 with a 2.86 ERA against them. Derek Jeter, batting .219 coming into the game, lined a single to right field. Mark Teixeira doubled to right with one out, and Alex Rodriguez doubled to right-center field on the next pitch from Orioles starter Brad Bergesen - an 84 mph slider - to deliver two...

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs righthander Craig Stammen earned his first win of the season Saturday with a 2-0 complete-game shutout of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at PNC Field in the nightcap of an afternoon doubleheader. The Chiefs lost the opener 4-2. Stammen threw 94 pitches with 66 for strikes, going seven innings and scattering four hits. He walked none and struck out seven to improve to 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA. One key to his win was getting ahead of the hitters. "I had a good sinker...

Brad Bergesen will make his fourth appearance and third start of the new season tonight versus the New York Yankees here at Camden Yards. Bergesen said this week he continues to work on his sinking fastball and perfecting the pitch that was a key reason he went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA over 19 starts in 2009. He said that last year he struggled so much with the sinker that he turned more to his four-seam fastball as the year went on. Now he wants to get back to being more of a sinkerball pitcher...

Chris Tillman says he's felt good for a few days after making a couple plays in the field during his last start that caused discomfort in his right groin, but the Orioles are being cautious and skipping him in the rotation until next Saturday. Tillman is available to pitch in relief tonight, but only if manager Buck Showalter has to use him. "I can't pinpoint an exact time, but it happened during the last game (Monday) around the second inning," Tillman said. "There were a few things...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter pointed out today how hard players like Derrek Lee and Nick Markakis are working behind the scenes to get out of batting slumps. He knows fans are wondering when his No. 2 and No. 3 hitters will get it going. Markakis is batting .203 over 18 games with two homers, two doubles, six RBIs and a .327 slugging percentage. So how is Markakis feeling about his swing right now? "I've got mixed emotions about it," he said. "I'm definitely not where I want to be,...