Yankees-Orioles need extra innings again

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Baltimore’s bullpen escaped a two-on jam with no outs in the eighth as Alex Rodriguez struck out yet again, and the Orioles and New York Yankees were tied at 1 after 12 innings Thursday night in Game 4 of their AL division series.

Baltimore’s Nate McLouth homered and made a leaping catch against the left-field wall to save a run, and Robinson Cano hit an RBI groundout.

With the Yankees leading the best-of-five series 2-1, the Orioles were trying to stave off elimination. A Baltimore win would force a Game 5 tonight and push all four division series to the maximum for the first time.

New York had a runner in each of the first eight innings and threatened to take the lead in the eighth. Singles by Ichiro Suzuki and Mark Teixeira off Luis Ayala put two on with no outs, and Cano’s grounder to second against Brian Matusz advanced the runners.

Side-arming right-hander Darren O’Day relieved and struck out Rodriguez on four pitches — A-Rod is 2 for 17 (.117) with no RBIs and nine strikeouts in the series. Nick Swisher flied weakly to right, falling to 1 for 34 (.029) with runners in scoring position in his postseason career.

Both bullpens pitched scoreless ball, with Baltimore allowing three hits over 51/3 scoreless innings and the Yankees giving up one hit over 41/3 innings.

Curtis Granderson, who struck out twice, also is slumping in the series, 1 for 15 (.067) with eight Ks. And Cano is 2 for 17 (.118), hitless in his last 11 at-bats.

The Orioles wasted a chance in the ninth when pinch runner Lew Ford was picked off first by Rafael Soriano.

McLouth had homered into the right-center field seats, reaching down for a 91 mph fastball from Phil Hughes leading off the fifth inning. McLouth has six hits in his last six at-bats against Hughes with three doubles, plus two walks.