O's game blog: The Orioles are 8-4 against AL East teams

At one time, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was a dominant pitcher against the Orioles - and a few other teams. But in recent years, the Orioles have had a lot of success when facing Sabathia.

The 35-year-old lefty owns an 18-7 career record and ERA of 3.45 when pitching versus the Orioles. But since 2012, he is just 2-7 with an ERA of 5.06 over 11 starts against them. Since May 20, 2013, he has won just one of his last seven starts versus the Orioles.

Sabathia will try to pitch the Yankees even in this series tonight facing O's right-hander Tyler Wilson (1-0, 3.06 ERA). The Orioles won the series opener 4-1 last night.

Baltimore has won six in a row against the Yankees, its longest win streak against New York since 1997. The club record for most consecutive wins against New York is nine in a row from Aug. 15, 1967 to May 22, 1968.

The Orioles are 8-4 this year in games against American League East opponents, winning three of four series. They can add to that by taking one of the next two games in this series.

Sabathia is the active leader in career strikeouts with 2,589. This season he is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA over four starts. He has given up exactly three runs in each outing and has a .291 batting average against, while .310 against right-handed batters.

Wilson is 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in his two starts. He gave up three runs in five innings April 23 at Kansas City and allowed two in 4 2/3 April 28 versus the Chicago White Sox. Wilson has a home ERA of 2.79 this season a career ERA of 2.14 at Camden Yards over seven games, including three starts.

On the farm today: Triple-A Norfolk lost 3-2 at Louisville as Chaz Roe took the loss. Starter Odrisamer Despaigne went five innings allowing two runs on five hits. The Tides were held to six hits, including a Xavier Avery solo homer, his second. Norfolk is now 10-17.

Avery's homer snapped an 11-game homerless drought for the Tides, who had gone 417 plate appearances since their last home run - an Avery homer on April 23 vs. Durham.

Orioles 2015 first-round pick DJ Stewart went 3-for-3 today as Single-A Delmarva beat Lexington 7-4. Stewart had two doubles, two walks and two RBIs and is batting .236. Ademar Rifaela added a solo homer, his second of the year.

Delmarva right-hander Cristian Alvarado fanned 10 without a walk over six innings, where he allowed two runs and four hits. He got the win and is 2-2 with an ERA of 4.62. Delmarva has won 11 of its last 15 games since opening the season 4-6.

Award winners: The Orioles player development department has named Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Trey Mancini as its Player of the Month for April. Single-A Delmarva pitcher Garrett Cleavinger was named the organization's Pitcher of the Month.

Mancini is batting .276 with seven homers, 16 RBIs and an OPS of .954. He began the season with Double-A Bowie, playing 17 games there before moving to Norfolk late in April.

Cleavinger made six appearances, five of which were scoreless, for the Shorebirds during April. He logged 14 2/3 innings with a 3-0 record and 1.84 ERA during that span. His three wins were the most by any Shorebirds pitcher during the opening month of the season.