Orioles strike back against Yankees

Five days earlier, the New York Yankees used a dazzling offensive showing against Garrett Olson to begin their longest winning streak of the season. Olson and the Baltimore Orioles got their revenge in the rematch.

Olson pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead home run against favorite target Darrell Rasner, and Baltimore ended the visiting Yankees' five-game run with a 6-1 victory yesterday.

Aubrey Huff also homered for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game skid that began with an 8-0 loss at Yankee Stadium in which Olson yielded six runs before being yanked in the third inning. After waiting patiently, Olson (4-1) pitched a gem.

"You can always dwell on it, but that's not going to do you any good," the rookie said. "Every fifth day if you get the ball, you've got to go out there and get the job done."

Which is precisely what happened. Olson did not allow a hit after the third inning, matched his career high with seven strikeouts and walked four.

"It always comes down to location, and today, he had great location," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He used his changeup a little more effectively today."

Olson outpitched Rasner, who gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Rasner (3-1) had won each of his three starts - including that 8-0 game against Baltimore - since being recalled from the minors on May 4.

Hideki Matsui had three of New York's five hits and scored the Yankees' lone run, on a ninth-inning single by Chad Moeller. Before Moeller's hit, New York was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

"It happens," Girardi said. "They're not going to be perfect every time. There are good days and days that aren't your day. It's one game and you move on."

Markakis put Baltimore up 1-0 with his ninth homer on a 3-2 pitch from Rasner in the sixth, and added an RBI single in a five-run seventh against New York relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Veras. Earlier, Markakis broke an 0-for-13 slump with a third-inning double.

"Any time you get a hit, it's a good feeling and it's a confidence builder," Markakis said. "I've been struggling the past couple weeks."

Markakis also made the defensive play of the game, a throw from rightfield that cut down Johnny Damon at home in the third inning.

"Him throwing that guy out at the plate was probably the key thing for us," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

In other games:

* At Toronto, Shaun Marcum won for the first time in four starts, Gregg Zaun hit a two-run homer and the Blue Jays beat Kansas City, 7-2, to complete their first four-game sweep of the Royals.

* At St. Petersburg, Fla., Scott Kazmir won his fourth straight start, striking out 10 in seven innings to lead the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays over the Texas Rangers, 7-3. Eric Hinske hit a three-run homer for the Rays, who have won 16 of their last 17 home games.

* At Cleveland, Orlando Cabrera's fourth hit drove in the go-ahead run in the 12th inning and the White Sox beat the Indians, 6-3. Bobby Jenks recorded his 13th save in 15 chances.

* At Anaheim, Calif., Bobby Seay walked Garret Anderson with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th as the Los Angeles Angels beat Detroit, 1-0.

* At Seattle, Dustin Pedroia's ground-rule double scored the go-ahead run as the Boston Red Sox scored four times in the eighth for a 5-3 win over the Mariners. *