Yanks’ Mitre gets first win since 2007

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Yanks’ Mitre gets first win since 2007

NEW YORK (AP)—Sergio Mitre(notes) earned his first win in two years, Robinson Cano(notes) hit a two-run homer and the surging New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Alex Rodriguez(notes) also had a key two-run single for an efficient New York squad, which made the most of just six hits. The Yankees are a major league-best 43-22 since Rodriguez came off the disabled list May 8 following hip surgery.

The Yankees (56-37) improved to a season-best 19 games over .500 and took a one-game lead in the AL East over Boston, which lost to Texas.

Mitre, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed four runs, three earned, and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in his first major league start since Sept. 15, 2007. It was his first win since July 29, 2007, for Florida at San Francisco.

The 28-year-old right-hander is serving as the Yankees’ fifth starter with Chien-Ming Wang(notes) sidelined by a strained right shoulder.
Series at a Glance

1.
Baltimore 1
NY Yankees 2
Mon, Jul 20 - Final
2.
Baltimore 4
NY Yankees 6
Tue, Jul 21 - Final
3.
Baltimore at
NY Yankees
Wed, Jul 22 - 1:05 pm ET

Brian Roberts(notes) had three hits for Baltimore, which has lost nine straight in the Bronx and fell to 1-13 in road games against the AL East this season. Roberts is batting .433 (13 for 30) in his last seven games.

After winning each of the last three games 2-1 for the first time in franchise history, the Yankees raced out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth. Rodriguez picked up two RBIs with a two-out single off Rich Hill(notes) in the third and Cano went deep after Nick Swisher(notes) led off the fourth with a walk.

Hill (3-3) departed after Cano’s 14th homer, running his winless stretch to six starts. He allowed five runs and three hits with four walks.

Johnny Damon(notes) added an RBI single off Brian Bass(notes) to finish the scoring in New York’s three-run fourth.

Mitre (1-0) missed the 2008 season and had elbow-ligament replacement surgery on July 15 last year. He agreed to a minor league contract with the Yankees during the offseason, then was suspended for the first 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance under the major league drug program.
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter(notes) approaches the plate as Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters(notes) awaits the throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Jeter was tagged out on the play.
New York Yankees' Derek Je…
AP - Jul 21, 9:19 pm EDT

Mitre was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts for Class A Tampa and 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA in seven starts with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before he was called up.

Melvin Mora’s(notes) two-run single cut New York’s lead to 6-4 in the sixth but Mitre responded by throwing a called third strike past Nolan Reimold(notes) for the second out. Alfredo Aceves(notes) then came in and got Matt Wieters(notes) to fly out to end the inning.

Aceves also worked a perfect seventh, Phil Coke(notes) pitched the eighth and Mariano Rivera(notes) got three outs for his 27th save in 28 opportunities.

NOTES: RHP Brett Tomko(notes) was designated for assignment to make room for Mitre. Tomko hadn’t pitched since July 11. … The Orioles activated RHP Cla Meredith(notes) and optioned RHP Kam Mickolio(notes) to Triple-A Norfolk. Meredith was acquired from the Padres on Sunday for INF Oscar Salazar(notes). … Orioles RHPs Dennis Sarfate(notes) (circulatory problems in right arm) and Chris Ray(notes) (right biceps tendinitis) will start rehab assignments on Friday. Sarfate is scheduled to make four appearances for Norfolk, pitching one inning each time. Ray is expected to do the same at Double-A Bowie. “After they pitch on the 31st, we’ll have to see where they’re at,” manager Dave Trembley said. … Yankees SS Derek Jeter(notes) appeared to be favoring his left leg after he was thrown out trying to score on Mark Teixeira’s(notes) flyball to right in the fourth. He stayed in the game, but was bending his leg in the field in the fifth.

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