Yanks' Lose Early Lead; Nova Struggles

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Orioles	0	7	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	11	13	1
Yankees	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	11	0

R

H

E

Orioles

0

7

1

0

1

0

0

2

0

11

13

1

Yankees

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

11

0

R

H

E

Orioles

0

7

1

0

1

0

0

2

0

11

13

1

Yankees

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

11

0

Ivan Nova stares at the baseball in the second inning on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

The Yankees continued to struggle on Tuesday night as they fell to the Orioles 11-5. The Yankees gave Ivan Nova a five run first inning, but Nova gave it all back and more in the second inning when he allowed seven runs to the Orioles.

Ivan Nova allowed 9 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings of work. He struck out 5 and walked 1. Nova lacked his command the whole game and he had an inconsistent slider and breaking ball. He finished his outing with 93 pitches thrown, in which 66 of them were for strikes.

The Yankees offense exploded in the bottom of the first when they were able to put up an early five spot. Robinson Cano cranked a two run shot and Curtis Granderson, Ichiro Suzuki, and Russell Martin each drove in a run.

The Yankees have lost four in a row and 9 of their last 12 games.

The Yankees and Orioles will play the finale tomorrow afternoon.

Game 103: Orioles at Yankees

July 31st 2012, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees, Wind: S at 6 MPH

The Yankees and Orioles will play the middle game of this three game set tonight.

Click Here for the probable pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Orioles (55-48)
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Chris Davis, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Lew Ford, LF
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Omar Quintanilla, 2B

Pitching: Chris Tillman RHP (3-1, 1.66 ERA this season)
(Chris Tillman against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (60-42)
Derek Jeter, DH
Curtis Granderson, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, 1B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Russell Martin, C
Ramiro Pena, SS

Pitching: Ivan Nova RHP (10-4, 4.08 ERA this season)
(Ivan Nova against the Orioles: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Yankees Activate Joba Chamberlain from Disabled List

Joba Chamberlain was on his way to Trenton to make what could have been his final rehab appearance. When he pulled into the parking lot, he received a cal and was told to return to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees told him that they have activated him off the disabled list.

"You're expected to go to Trenton and pitch and go in and next thing you know they're telling you to turn around," Chamberlain said. "I guess it's the way my career has gone; fast and not really knowing what's going to happen. I guess i wouldn't have it any other way."

Chamberlain was not used on Tuesday and he could make his first appearance of the season on Wednesday.

Yankees Acquire Casey McGehee

The Yankees made a deal just as the deadline came. The team announced that they have acquired infielder Casey McGehee from the Pirates in exchange for Chad Qualls. McGehee will likely play third base since Alex Rodriguez will be out until September with a fractured hand. If the Yankees didn't trade Chad Qualls, then he most likely would have been designated for assignment in the next couple of days when Joba Chamberlain made his return.

McGehee is batting .230 with 35 RBI's and 8 home runs in 92 games played. McGehee can play third base as well as some first base. He will not be on the active roster for Tuesday's game.

Alex Rodriguez will be out 4-8 weeks and McGehee can help their offense with his absence.

Mark Teixeira Injury Update

The Yankees sent Mark Teixeira for an MRI on Tuesday and everything went well. The MRI showed that he had inflammation in his left wrist and not structural damage which is good. He has been listed as day-to-day and will be reevaluated in three days. 

Teixeira originally hurt his wrist while swinging on Sunday against the Red Sox, but aggravated it even more on Monday when he dove to his left for a ball. He would later exit the game in the eighth inning.