Duncan's Homer In 10-Run Fourth Lifts Yankees Over Orioles 11-10

Saturday, September 29th 2007, 9:59 pm

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) _ Shelley Duncan homered to cap a 10-run fourth inning, and a host of New York Yankees backups feasted on Baltimore Orioles pitching in an 11-10 victory Saturday night.

The Yankees trailed 6-1 before nine straight batters reached to open the fourth. Duncan, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano each had two RBIs in the inning.

Because New York had already clinched the wild card and was out of the AL East race, Yankees manager Joe Torre rested shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and outfielders Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui.

There was no drop-off in production by baseball's highest-scoring team: Each of the starters scored at least once, and shortstop Alberto Gonzalez was the only one who failed to get a hit.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (15-9) struggled in his tuneup for Game 2 of the divisional series at Cleveland. The left-hander yielded nine runs and eight hits _ including two home runs _ in five innings.

Jose Veras worked the ninth for his second save. Brian Roberts drew a leadoff walk and stole his 50th base, but was stranded.

Before the game, Torre announced that Chien-Ming Wang would start the opener against the AL Central champions.

Nick Markakis, Ramon Hernandez and Jay Payton homered for the Orioles, who have allowed at least 10 runs in 18 games this season. Baltimore has lost 27 of 38.

Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera (9-18) put an appropriate finish on a horrid season by giving up seven runs and 10 hits in three-plus innings. He went 0-6 in his last eight starts and took over the major league lead in losses.

Markakis gave the Orioles a 2-0 first-inning lead with 23rd home run after a walk to Melvin Mora. Jorge Posada hit an RBI single in the second for New York, but Baltimore scored twice in the bottom half and made it 6-1 in the third.

Then came the fourth. Posada, Duncan and Bronson Sardinha singled before Gonzalez reached on an error. Melky Cabrera followed with a two-run double and Wilson Betemit singled in a run to chase Daniel Cabrera.

Kurt Birkins entered and walked Bobby Abreu before giving up a double to Jason Giambi. Cano then hit a two-run single, Posada struck out and Duncan hit his seventh home run on a 3-2 pitch.

Hernandez hit a three-run shot in the fifth and Payton added a solo shot in the eighth.

Notes: Despite the loss, Baltimore can capture the season series for the first time in 10 years with a win in the finale Sunday. ... Markakis had three hits, his fifth multihit game in the last eight. ... The teams combined for 40 runs and 57 hits in the first two games of the series. ... Pettitte is 22-6 lifetime against Baltimore.