Jimenez can't finish fifth or lower portion of Yankees lineup (O's lose 4-2)

NEW YORK - Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez threw 109 pitches in 4 2/3 innings today. The five walks didn't do him any favors. Same with the eight hits.

Jimenez threw 13, 19, 18, 32 and 27 pitches over five innings. He needed 96 pitches to get through six innings in his debut Wednesday against the Red Sox at Camden Yards and has issued eight walks in 10 2/3 innings this season.

He's got to become more economical. Got to throw more strikes.

A two-out walk to Kelly Johnson in the fourth today was followed by Yangervis Solarte's RBI single to right field that broke a 1-1 tie. Nick Markakis almost made a diving catch in right field, but the ball popped out of his glove.

Derek Jeter led off the fifth with a double to left, the ball slamming off the fence, and he scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's single to increase the Yankees' lead to 3-1.

Brian McCann flied to deep center, Alfonso Soriano singled, Brian Roberts walked and Jimenez was done.

Zach Britton issued a bases-loaded walk to Kelly Johnson, another run charged to Jimenez.

Johnson and Solarte make up the bottom of the Yankees' order today. They're a combined 1-for-3 with three walks and two RBIs. Roberts, batting seventh, also has walked.

Ryan Flaherty and Jonathan Schoop, the Orioles' No. 8 and 9 hitters today, are a combined 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and 4-for-40 with 16 strikeouts this season. Steve Lombardozzi, the No. 7 hitter, has flied out and struck out today, making the bottom third of the order 1-for-6 with three strikeouts.

Schoop doubled with two outs in the top of the fifth, but McCann picked him off.

McCann stood up, paused, then fired to second as Schoop dived into the bag. Not sure I've ever seen a delayed pickoff at second.

Combine it with Nelson Cruz's blunder in the second inning, and it's been a poor day for the Orioles on the base paths.

What happened on the mound isn't cause for celebration, either.

Update: The Orioles cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh when the first three batters reached. Chris Davis doubled, Matt Wieters singled and Nelson Cruz delivered his fifth RBI with a single.

The next three batters were retired, with Yankees manager Joe Girardi going to his bullpen twice. Left-hander Matt Thornton induced a bouncer from Ryan Flaherty, who may have been lifted for a pinch-hitter under different circumstances.

Delmon Young and Steve Pearce are on the bench, but J.J. Hardy isn't available to play shortstop if Flaherty is removed from the game. Jonathan Schoop and Steve Lombardozzi can play short, but who plays second or third?

Davis has played third in the past, but it's been a while. Pearce could have pinch-hit and stayed in the game at first.

Update II: Shawn Kelley retired the side in order in the ninth, and the Orioles suffered their fifth loss in the last six games 4-2 before an announced crowd of 48,142 at Yankee Stadium.

Britton and Ryan Webb combined for 3 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings.