Orioles Snap 4-Game Skid, Beat Yankees

Friday, September 8th 2006, 10:07 pm

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) _ Erik Bedard allowed four hits in six innings to earn his first victory since July 23, and the Baltimore Orioles snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the New York Yankees 9-4 Friday night.

Melvin Mora, Jay Gibbons and David Newhan homered for the Orioles, who chased New York starter Cory Lidle while building a 7-0 lead in the second inning. Lidle (3-3) retired only five batters in his shortest outing of the season.

Bedard (13-9) gave up two runs, struck out eight and walked three. The left-hander was 0-3 in seven starts since defeating Tampa Bay for his seventh straight win.

New York's Derek Jeter drove in a run and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games, the longest run by a Yankee since Bernie Williams hit in 19 straight in August 2002.

Craig Wilson hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Brian Burres, who was making his major league debut, to make it 9-4.

Mora put the Orioles up 2-0 in the first inning, hitting a 1-2 pitch into the left-field seats for his 15th home run after Brian Roberts hit a leadoff single.

Baltimore sent eight men to the plate in a five-run second. Singles by Ramon Hernandez, Roberts and Nick Markakis filled the bases for Miguel Tejada, who was 0-for-9 with the bases loaded this season.

Tejada bounced a two-run single up the middle to chase Lidle, and Gibbons greeted Jose Veras with a three-run shot to right. It was Gibbons' 12th homer, the first since July 30.

Lidle is 0-2 against Baltimore since coming to New York from Philadelphia in a July 30 trade. The right-hander is 1-5 in eight career appearances at Camden Yards.

New York closed to 7-2 in the third. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Jeter, who hit an RBI single. After Bobby Abreu looked at a third strike, Alex Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly before Jason Giambi fouled out.

Newhan connected against Sean Henn in the bottom half. Newhan, who returned from a fourth-month stay on the disabled list on Sept. 1, had not homered since April 14.

Kevin Millar hit an RBI single off Jeff Karstens in the seventh.

Notes: Baltimore is 6-7 vs. New York, winning three straight. ... Gibbons is 11-for-24 (.458) with four homers and 14 RBIs lifetime against Lidle. ... New York RHP Mike Mussina had his next start moved from Sunday to Tuesday because of soreness he experienced after his start against Kansas City on Sunday. Jaret Wright will start Sunday vs. Baltimore.