The Orioles are the only team to take a series from the Yankees since the A’s won a rubber game in the Bronx on July 1. Now 25-22 under replacement manager Dave Trembley, the O’s have gone 5-7 since taking two of three from the Yankees in Baltimore three weekends ago. Included in that 5-7, however, is a six-game split with the Red Sox which the O’s just completed by taking two of three from the Sox at Camden Yards. On Friday night the O’s rallied four four runs in the eighth against Eric Gagne and Hideki Okajima, then pushed accross the winning run against Okajima in the ninth following a leadoff double by Brian Roberts. Yesterday, the O’s rallied for two in the eighth against Okajima and Gagne (in the opposite order) to tie, then won on a three-run Kevin Millar walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth.

So the O’s are feeling good, but so are the Yanks, who should be extra determined to put Baltimore in their place as they visit the Stadium over the next three nights. The only problem is they’ll have to start things off against Jeremy Guthrie, who has already beaten New York twice this season (12 1/3 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 1 HR, 4 BB, 10 K — Johnny Damon hit the homer). The good news is that Guthrie’s last start, which came against those inexplicable Mariners, was one of his worst of the season and he’s allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 9 1/3 innings since last facing the Bombers, who are bombing a lot more now than they were back in Baltimore as they were suffering from a brief team slump that weekend. Of course the O’s could say similar things about Chien-Ming Wang, who is coming off the worst start of his major league career tonight.

Jorge Posada is finally back in the lineup. Wilson Betemit curiously draws the start at first behind the groundballing Wang. Damon starts at DH, perhaps because of that homer. As for the O’s, they have Melvin Mora, back, but have lost Jay Gibbons to the DL for the season following labrum surgery and Chris Gomez to the Indians via waivers (in case you didn’t notice who started at third base for the Tribe yesterday). Sorry for cutting this one so close, folks. Game on!

Baltimore Orioles

2007 Record: 54-62 (.466)
2007 Pythagorean Record: 57-59 (.495)

Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Mike Flanagan

Home Ballpark (2007 Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (99/99)

Who’s Replacing Whom?

Melvin Mora (DL) replaces Jay Gibbons (DL)
Tike Redman (minors) replaces Chris Gomez
J.R. House (minors) replaces Luis Hernandez (minors)
Garrett Olson (minors) replaces John Parrish
Jim Hoey (minors) replaces Cory Doyne (minors)

25-man Roster

1B – Kevin Millar (R)
2B – Brian Roberts (S)
SS – Miguel Tejada (R)
3B – Melvin Mora (R)
C – Ramon Hernandez (R)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Corey Patterson (L)
LF – Jay Payton (R)
DH – Aubrey Huff (L)

Bench:

L – Brandon Fahey (UT)
L – Tike Redman (OF)
L – Paul Bako (C)
R – J.R. House (C/1B)

Rotation:

L – Erik Bedard
R – Jeremy Guthrie
R – Daniel Cabrera
L – Brian Burres
R – Steve Trachsel

Bullpen:

L – Jamie Walker
R – Danys Baez
R – Chad Bradford
R – Rob Bell
R – Paul Shuey
L – Garrett Olson
R – Jim Hoey

15-day DL: L – Jay Gibbons (OF/1B), L – Freddie Bynum (UT), R – Chris Ray, R – Sendy Rleal
60-day DL: R – Kris Benson, R – Jaret Wright, L – Adam Loewen

Typical Lineup:

S – Brian Roberts (2B)
L – Corey Patterson (CF)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Miguel Tejada (SS)
R – Kevin Millar (1B)
L – Aubrey Huff (3B)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
R – Ramon Hernandez (C)
R – Jay Payton (LF)