Kuroda Strong as Yankees Defeat Orioles

Hiroki Kuroda pitched seven neat innings and teamed with catcher Russell Martin to nab Nick Markakis at the plate in the key play of the game, lifting the New York Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Monday night.

Eric Chavez hit an early two-run homer as the Yankees beat Baltimore once again. They are 4-0 against the Orioles this year, 43-15 over the O's since 2009 and have not lost any of the last 14 season series to them.

The loss denied Buck Showalter his 1,000th win as a big league manager -- his first victory came in 1992 next door at the old Yankee Stadium. Baltimore lost for the second time in eight games.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)