The Orioles had runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the first inning tonight and it was easy to imagine the score being 2-0 in no time. But then Robinson Cano made a beautiful, sprinting catch in center field–followed by a strong, one-hop throw to the plate just in case–to save Phil Hughes’ ass. Matt Wieters got ahead 3-0 and here-we-go-again is what I was thinking But he swung at the next pitch and lined out to center and what do you know, today is a new day.

Russell Martin put the Yanks on the board in the fourth with a three-run homer to left and Steve Pearce nailed a two-run shot before the inning was over. Then Alex Rodriguez hit a long home run in the fifth (his 300th as a Yankee) which gave the vistors a 7-0 lead.

The O’s chipped away of course. Adam Jones hit a three-run homer against Hughes in the sixth, Robert Andino hit a solo shot against Cody Eppley in the seventh, and Manny Machado hit a line drive dinger against Rafael Soriano in the ninth.

By that time, however, it was too little too late. The Yanks scored an insurance run in the top of the inning and about the only ball hit to left that didn’t find it’s way into the seats came when Nate McClouth robbed Nick Swisher of a two-run homer in the ninth. Swisher had been 0-17 on this road trip and he could only smile at his dumb luck.

Fortunately, for the Yankees, it didn’t matter. Maybe he’ll save a couple of hits or three for tomorrow.

Yanks back in sole possession of first for now.

A good, much-needed win. Oh, and it should also be noted that David Robertson faced two batters in the eighth and retired them both. Jones took him deep last night but went down on three pitches this time: an overhand curve that buckled his knees for a called strike, and then two sweeping curves, breaking low and away, swung on and missed. Wieters hit a long line drive on the first pitch he saw but it fell harmlessly into Curtis Granderson’s glove for the third out.

Final Score: Yanks 8, O’s 5.