Posada lifts Yankees past O’s

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(AP)
Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon watches his leadoff home run off of O’s starter Bruce Chen.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - You can count on the moment when it will happen. That old Yankee mystique reared its ugly head at the top of the ninth inning.

With Orioles sure-fire closer Chris Ray on the mound, Yankee catcher Jorge Posada hit a game-clinching solo home run out to Eutaw Street, for a 5-4 win Friday.

When Posada’s hammered the pitch, 44,840 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, many of who were vocal Yankees fans, roared as quickly it sailed over the right field wall.

The Orioles held a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, thanks to a Fernando Tatis solo home run. The Yankees responded in the seventh inning, when first baseman Craig Wilson doubled of Chris Britton, scoring Jason Giambi. Tatis, who played right field Friday, refused to play into the Yankee’s larger than life aura before the game.

“It’s just another team,” Tatis said. “We play hard against every team. It don’t matter who we play, we just have to go out there and play hard every day.”

Tatis’ home run came off five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson. Johnson, for only second time in his career, failed to strike out a batter in consecutive games.

“He’s a great pitcher. It don’t matter (how he is doing this year),” Tatis said. “You just have to go out there and concentrate all the time.”

Orioles starter Bruce Chen was relatively unspectacular, walking a tightrope throughout his five innings of work. Chen gave up nine hits and three earned runs, but left the game with a one-run lead.

Earlier in the day, the Orioles acquired Chris Widger, a catcher who was released by the Chicago White Sox earlier this week. Widger cleared waivers on Wednesday and was added to replace Javy Lopez. Lopez was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

“It’s not a good feeling when you’re told that a team doesn’t want you anymore,” Widger said. “At the same time it’s part of baseball, it’s part of the business. I’m with an organization now that for a while I have looked forward to playing with because it is close to home.”

Widger drove down from New Jersey, leaving at 1:45 p.m.

Widger was given Lopez’s No. 18 jersey and his former locker.

Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, who had one of his better outings of the season Tuesday, had developed an on-the-field chemistry with Javy Lopez this season.

“I think I’ll have to get over it and try to adjust myself to the team,” Rodrigo Lopez said. “It was good for baseball, it was good for the Orioles and it was good for him. He sounds pretty happy and excited. He’s on a pretty good team. He was a good guy in the clubhouse and I consider him a friend.”

Matt Palmer contributed to this story.

SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY

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53 days ago: Baltimore Orioles take Indians: 6-1

53 days ago: Payton’s finally found his place in center field

54 days ago: Cleveland beats Orioles

56 days ago: BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTEBOOK: Cherry on top of O’s bullpen

56 days ago: BALTIMORE ORIOLES REPORT CARD: Orioles fail to sweep, again

56 days ago: ORIOLES REPORT CARD: Texas sent packing - again

56 days ago: Birdwatching: Sweep on O’s radar

57 days ago: Baltimore Oriole's Report Card - O's take Texas

61 days ago: Orioles committed to Trembley

63 days ago: Orioles’ minor leaguer hopes Beijing trip is golden