O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound in New York series opener (with Clark note)

While the New York Yankees were sweeping first-place Toronto, the Orioles were taking two of three from Tampa Bay, and it's gotten closer at the top of the American League East.

Toronto now leads the division by 1 1/2 games over the Yankees and 2 1/2 over the Orioles as the Birds begin an important three-game series tonight in The Bronx. The Orioles are one game out of first in the loss column. New York plays three games in Toronto starting Monday.

The Orioles have not played New York since they took two of three at Yankee Stadium from April 7-9. The Orioles scored 21 runs on 40 hits in those three games, but 14 runs and 20 hits came in one game. The O's hit .354 with nine doubles and four homers in that series.

Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8, 4.86 ERA) starts for the Orioles tonight. He has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his last four starts, providing some hope of a turnaround for the right-hander. But he's also given up five or more runs in three of his past six starts.

Jimenez is tied for the AL lead in losses and is second in walks. No doubt those two stats are related. He's walked 22 in 24 innings over his past five starts. Jimenez is 1-4 with a 6.67 ERA in five career starts versus New York.

Hiroki Kuroda (4-5, 4.32 ERA) gets the start for New York. Kuroda is 3-2 with a 4.93 ERA in seven home starts. In five career home starts against the O's, Kuroda is 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA.

The O's tonight will try to end a streak that has seen them record less than 10 hits for 12 straight games. They have a team average of .228 in that time.

Here are a few numbers that are getting better for the Orioles:

They have won two in a row and 11 of their last 18. They are 6-4 in a 13-game stretch against AL East rivals. The Orioles are 11-5 in AL East road games and have won six of their last eight road games overall. They have not lost an AL East road series this year, going 4-0-1.

Clark signs with Camden: Right-handed pitcher Zach Clark, who was released by the Orioles a week ago today, has signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League. In eight minor league seasons with Baltimore, Clark was 52-59 with a 4.21 ERA in 196 games (140 starts).