Pickoff Is Key Play As Yankees Tag O's

Pettitte Continues Mastery of Baltimore: Yankees 4, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE, May 28 -- Throughout his career, New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte has demonstrated a mastery of the Baltimore Orioles. Entering play on Wednesday night, he carried with him a 23-6 career mark against Baltimore, so it wasn't too surprising that he had allowed just two runs when he yielded to starter-in-the-making Joba Chamberlain in the seventh inning.

But the most important throw Pettitte made from the pitcher's mound wasn't directed toward home plate. Instead, it was a pickoff throw he made to second base that altered the course of Baltimore's 4-2 loss to the Yankees.

With the Orioles down a run in the fifth inning after Derek Jeter's sacrifice fly knocked in Melky Cabrera, Baltimore's Brian Roberts laced his third hit of the night, a one-out double. But while facing Melvin Mora, Pettitte wheeled and fired to second base, where he caught Roberts too far from the bag to return.

With no options, Roberts broke for third but was retired after a short rundown, caught stealing for the fifth time this season.

"It was a pivotal part of the game," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "We were going to steal third. We felt we could steal third."

Said Pettitte, "He was getting extremely aggressive out there and that was big."

The mistake loomed large after Mora walked and Nick Markakis followed with a double to right. Roberts, instead of crossing home plate, was watching from the dugout as a golden opportunity in a close game slipped away.

"The game is such that after those things happen, you get the hits," Trembley said. "You know what's going to happen next. The next pitch, the guy gets a base hit. That's how the game is."

The Orioles hoped they could continue the momentum generated from Tuesday night's 10-run, 16-hit outburst. While Orioles have scored more runs in other games this season, that was the team's best offensive night. Baltimore recorded a season-high eight extra-base hits, including five home runs. But it would have been far-fetched to expect an encore of the Orioles' 11-inning classic, a 10-9 victory that required three rallies to complete. So Baltimore reverted to form as one of the American League's lightest-hitting teams.

Nevertheless, Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie once again gave his team a chance to win, holding the Yankees to three runs on six hits in seven innings.

However, the Orioles didn't provide him much help. In his six losses this season, the Orioles have given him a total of seven runs with which to work.

As per usual, Guthrie deflected attention away from his own bad luck, while absolving his teammates.