Ahead 2-1 in the seventh, the Yankees broke it open with a seven-run burst. Teixeira highlighted it with his fourth homer in four games. The Yankees last won seven straight in September.
Sabathia (4-3) again dominated the Orioles, allowing three singles in seven innings for his first home win in pinstripes. He threw a four-hit shutout at Baltimore on May 8, and this time outpitched rookie Brad Bergesen (1-2).
Bergesen changed his jersey before the game from No. 64 to No.
35, visibly transforming from a spring training wannabe to a full-fledged major leaguer. He held the Yankees to three hits in a career-high 6 1-3 innings, and retired 13 consecutive batters after Rodriguez homered.
Chris Ray relieved Bergesen and gave up Derek Jeter's two-run double and Teixeira's homer.
The Orioles had heard the new Yankee Stadium was a homer haven, and found out why in their first game at the ballpark.
Rodriguez sent a two-out drive into the left-center field bleachers for a 2-1 lead. His career best is five straight games with a home run, done three times.
Since coming off the disabled list May 8, Rodriguez has a total of seven hits - five home runs and two singles.
Rodriguez homered on his first swing when he was activated, starting Sabathia on his string of winning three straight starts.
The big lefty struck out seven, walked one and allowed only one base hit out of the infield.
As he did in his shutout at Camden Yards, Sabathia gave up hits to the first two Orioles batters. Baltimore scored this time on an RBI grounder by Aubrey Huff.
Before the game, a Yankees fan behind the Baltimore dugout razzed the Orioles' cleanup hitter.
"Hey Huff, why do you kill us every game?" the man teased.
Huff smiled, pointed toward the right-field wall and answered: "Short porch."
Notes: Rodriguez has 49 home runs against the Orioles, most among active players. ... It was quite a night for 6-year-old Tommy Belsky of Hopewell, N.J. Celebrating one year free of leukemia, he toured the Yankees clubhouse, sat in a front-row seat, was shown on the scoreboard, taught his secret handshake to Nick Swisher, met Jeter and A-Rod and played catch with 2B Robinson Cano. "Pretty good," Cano said. ... Phil Coke became the latest Yankees reliever to shave his head.
NEW YORK SPORTS AND MORE
USEFUL LINKS:
SEND TIP OR PHOTO || REPORT TYPO || GET WIDGET
EYEWITNESS TWITTER || FIND US ON FACEBOOK
