NEW YORK: on Wednesday the Yankees beat the Orioles to pull to within 1 ½ games of the conference leading Red Sox in the American League East. Doug Mientkiewicz scored on a wild pitch and Hideki Matsui had a home run for the Yankees, who have won their last four games and 12 of there last 14 games. The Yankees (88-64), are on a season-high twenty four games over .500, and now have a 5 1/2-game lead over Detroit (83-70) in the wild card race. The Yankees are on a high 4 months ago they were 14 ½ games behind the Red Sox.
Andy Pettitte in the eighth innings got two outs before handing over to rookie Joba Chamberlain, Chamberlain had never pitched in the middle of an innings, but did well by taking Melvin Mora out, a fete he clearly enjoyed by pumping his fist as he walked off the mound. In the sixth Mora had hit an RBI single for the Orioles cutting the Yankees lead to 2-1. On Wednesday Andy Pettitte had more than the win over the orioles to celebrate, he also reached his 200th career win.