Cervelli-Burnett battery baffles Baltimore

Francisco Cervelli scored the game-tying run after tripling, fell into the dugout making a great catch, laid down a beautiful sac bunt, and delivered one of the more comical postgame interviews of the year on the Yes Network.

Nights like this make losing Jorge Posada feel a lot less worse, as the Yankees (18-8) beat the Orioles (7-20) 4-1.

Quick ‘Cap:
A.J. Burnett allowed an unearned run in the third inning and then went into cruise control until the eighth inning. He finished with eight strikeouts and allowed five hits and two walks, lowering his ERA to 1.99.

Brett Gardner scored the game-winning run in the fifth on a throwing error by pitcher Brian Matusz after Ramiro Pena’s bunt. Alex Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to make it 3-1. Pena added a sac fly in the eighth for his second RBI of the night.

Burnett exited after a one-out walk in the eighth and let Damaso Marte and Alfredo Aceves finish the inning. Joba Chamberlain, in place of the injured Mariano Rivera, saved another one with no problems. Orioles-Yankees box score.

Thoughts:
These first two wins of the series belong to Randy Winn and Francisco Cervelli. In the words of Michael Kay, “How do you like that?”

Line of the Night:
Cervelli: 3-for-3, 3B, 2 R. “He does all the little things right,” Joe Giardi said after the game. And more. He’s hitting .387.

Up Next:
The Yankees can complete the sweep with a win in Wednesday’s matinee game. Bring the brooms!