Game 74: Yankees vs. Orioles

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees and Orioles will meet in the rubber game of this three game series this afternoon upon the conclusion of the Old Timer’s Day game festivities.  Yankee ace Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound for the Yankees against the Orioles best pitcher from 2013, Chris Tillman.  Tanaka is 11-1 on the season with league leading 1.99 ERA.  In the last forty years, Ron Guidry (1.74, 1978), Roger Clemens(1.93, 1990) and Pedro Martinez(1.74, 2000) are the only American League pitchers to finish a season with an ERA under two.  Tanaka is putting himself in a position to be the fourth.  Tanaka is facing Baltimore for the second time this season.  He earned a no-decision in April after leaving the game with the score tied, (7.0 IP, 3 ER, 10 K).

Before the game, the Yankees will celebrate the 68th Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium.  Over 50 former Yankees will be honored highlighted by Hall of Famer Goose Gossage receiving a plaque in Monument Park.  2009 World Series heroes, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon will both be making their first appearance at the annual event.

Things to watch for…

• Yankee Dominance Over the Birds: The Bombers have had 16 straight non-losing season series against the Orioles from 1998-2013 (14-0-2), which is the longest current streak of its kind for any team against one opponent.
• Tanak-Day: With a 11-1 record and 1.99 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 14 starts this season,  Tanaka leads the Majors in wins.  He also leads the American League in ERA and is second in the Majors, trailing only Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (1.92).  Since his epic win streak ended against the Cubs he  is 5-0 with a 1.26 ERA in his last five starts.
• Teixeira’s Streak: Mark Teixeira has a season high ten game hit streak entering today’s contest.  During that stretch he is batting .292 with two home runs and eight RBI.  It is his longest hitting streak since he hit in twelve in a row during the 2012 season.