Pavano Leads Yanks to Win - yes, Carl Pavano

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	2	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0		5	8	0
Baltimore	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	9	0

I didn't expect much from Pavano tonight, I don't think many people did. So five innings pitched with just three runs allowed was a pleasant surprise. He also got a win, and he didn't appear to hurt himself in the process. So all in all, it was a great night for Pavano.

He did struggled early in the game, allowing all three runs, and six of his seven hits in the first two innings. But as the game went on he settled down and picked up his first win in over a year.

For the second night in a row the bullpen was very good. Brian Bruney threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a batter. Jose Veras pitched a scoreless 8th, and struck out two. And Mariano Rivera picked up his 30th save of the season with an easy, 1-2-3 9th. On the night the bullpen pitched four innings, allowed no runs on two hits, while striking out four and walking none.

It was a rare night for the Yankees offense; both Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez got clutch hits. A-Rod got the Yankees on the board with a two out RBI double off the top of the wall in center. He would eventually score the second run on a Jason Giambi RBI single. That's back-to-back two out RBI for A-Rod and Giambi, a-mazing. And Giambi wasn't even finished yet.

With the Yankees trailing 3-2 in the top of the 3rd, the Yankees had A-Rod at first - he was hit by a pitch - with one out, and Giambi at the plate. Jason Giambi worked a nice eight pitch at-bat, and launched a 3-2 pitch into the seats in right-center to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead. It turned out to be the game-winning runs for the Yanks.

Hideki Matsui added a solo homer in the 7th to give the Yankees a very important insurance run. He's not running well, but he's hitting the ball well since coming off the DL.

A good day all around for the Yanks, Pavano pitches and win, and they gained a game on Boston, Minnesota, and Chicago, and now trail by five games in the Wild Card race. Completing the sweep tomorrow is very important for this team.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	4	1	1	0	1	0	1	.311
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.296
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.293
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	2	1	1	0	1	0	.309
Giambi, 1B	4	1	2	3	0	0	0	.253
Ransom, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000
Nady, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.327
Matsui, DH	4	1	1	1	0	1	2	.312
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.263
Rodriguez, I, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.285
Totals	35	5	8	5	1	9	8
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A (29, Guthrie). HR: Giambi (25, 3rd inning off Guthrie, 1 on, 2 out), Matsui (9, 7th inning off Guthrie, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Damon; Jeter; Rodriguez, A 2; Giambi 5; Nady; Matsui 4; Cano. RBI: Rodriguez, A (78), Giambi 3 (76), Matsui (38). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A; Giambi 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui; Abreu. Team LOB: 5.

ORIOLES OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pavano (W, 1-0)	5.0	7	3	3	1	5	0	5.40
Bruney (H, 5)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.11
Veras (H, 8)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2.72
Rivera (S, 30)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.57

ORIOLES PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carl Pavano (First win in 502 days.)

HONORABLE MENTION: Jason Giambi (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R)

Darrell Rasner will start for the Yankees in the series finale as they go for the sweep. The Orioles will counter with the hard-throwing Daniel Cabrera. First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. - TV: YES - Radio: WCBS 880