Baltimore Orioles Top New York Yankees 5-1, Improve to 3-0 in Grapefruit League

In a rematch of last season’s Divisional Series, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 5-1 in front of 7,335 people in attendance at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla.

Baltimore’s Brian Roberts set the tone early in this one, hitting doubles in his first two at bats, and he finished his two-for-three day scoring both times he reached base.

It was a great afternoon for the Orioles outfield as Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Nate McLouth all had at least one RBI. Jones knocked in Roberts in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double that he finished 1-3. Markakis’ base hit in the bottom of the third scored Roberts once again. In total, he went 2-3 on the afternoon. McLouth’s double in the bottom of the fourth opened it up for Baltimore, scoring two more for the Birds. He finished 1-2 with two runs batted in.

Young left-hander Brian Matusz looked sharp as the starter for Baltimore, working two scoreless innings, striking out one and walking none. Six other pitchers for the O’s made an appearance this afternoon and all but one of them had scoreless outings. Mark Hendrickson, who is vying for a spot in the Orioles’ bullpen, worked a scoreless outing as he continues to work on a new delivery. The Yankees avoided the shutout with an RBI hit from shortstop Walter Ibarra.

The Orioles travel to Bradenton, Florida tomorrow to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chris Tillman will start for Baltimore.