O's game blog: Orioles look for series win at New York

After losing three series and going 2-8 at Yankee Stadium last season, the Orioles can win a series there with a victory this afternoon. They have taken two of three in New York heading into the series finale.

The Yankees (5-4) are 3-2 on a six-game homestand that ends today. Baltimore (3-6) is 2-4 on a seven-game road trip that ends today.

Right-hander Mike Wright Jr. (0-0, 5.40 ERA) makes his second start today. He went five innings on Tuesday night at Houston in a no-decision. He gave up four hits and three runs with one walk and six strikeouts. Wright threw 82 pitches and 29 were cut fastballs that averaged 87.8 mph. He felt like that was a big pitch for him that night.

"I felt like my cutter got me out of some of those (tough) situations," Wright said at Minute Maid Park. "I was definitely excited about that. I threw some pretty decent changeups, but mainly I was just trying to let my defense work because they're so good. I was definitely just trying to throw strikes and be aggressive."

Manager Buck Showalter felt Wright held his own in a start opposite Justin Verlander.

"Obviously, facing tough competition with the pitcher against him and that team, I was proud of Mike. He gave us good chance," Showalter said.

In 2017 for the Orioles, Wright went 0-0 with a 5.76 ERA in 25 innings - all in relief. He walked seven and fanned 28. In 22 career big league starts, he is 5-9 with an ERA of 6.28.

Wright has made seven career appearances (one start) against the Yankees, going 0-1 with an ERA of 8.04. He has allowed 20 hits in 15 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery (0-0, 1.80 ERA) makes his second start for New York. He got a no-decision Tuesday versus Tampa Bay. Over five innings he gave up two hits and one run on 80 pitches.

In 29 starts last season, he went 9-7 with a 3.88 ERA. He yielded 8.1 hits/nine innings, 1.2 homers, 3.0 walks and 8.3 strikeouts per nine.

In 16 career games at Yankee Stadium, Montgomery is 6-3 with a 3.34 ERA. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer 11 times. He has not allowed a homer at Yankee Stadium over his past eight starts.

He made five starts in 2017 against the Orioles, going 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA. In 27 innings he walked eight, fanned 30 and pitched to a WHIP of 1.222.

O's pitchers have held Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to five hits in 24 at-bats (.208) this series. Judge is 3-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs while Stanton is 2-for-12 with no homers and two RBIs.

Most AL home wins since 2012:
287 - Orioles and New York Yankees
278 - Cleveland
272 - Toronto and Los Angeles Angels

Adam Jones hit his 250th career home run as a center fielder on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 250 homers hit while playing center field rank 13th all-time in major league history. He also ranks fifth all-time among American League hitters. Among AL hitters, he trails Mickey Mantle (432), Ken Griffey Jr. (382 ), Fred Lynn (266) and Bernie Williams (261). Willie Mays is the all-time leader with 640 home runs as a center fi elder.