Tonight's pitchers: Hernandez vs. Pettitte

RHP David Hernandez (2-2, 3.94) tonight makes his 6th start of this season, his 4th on the road and the 1st of his career vs. the Yankees. Hernandez was optioned to the minors on July 10th when Cesar Izturis was activated off the DL. Hernandez made his last start, last Monday for Double-A Bowie vs. Altoona. In four innings, he allowed two hits and one run. With Triple-A Norfolk this year he went 3-2, 3.30 in 11 starts. In 57 1/3 innings he struck out 79. Hernandez made his last Major League start on July 8th vs. Seattle. He pitched six innings and gave up just two runs on five hits. He did not get a decision. In two July starts, Hernandez is 1-0, 3.55. Right-handed batters are hitting .314 off Hernandez while lefties bat .267. In four games on the road, three starts, he is 1-1, 4.35. This will be his first start vs. an AL East opponent. LHP Andy Pettitte (8-5, 4.85) tonight makes his 19th start of this season, his 11th at home and the 36th of his career vs. the Orioles. Pettitte, who went 3-0 vs. the Orioles last year, has 25 career wins in 35 starts vs. the O's. The 37-year-old lefty has lost his last two starts, going 0-2, 10.45. In 10 1/3 innings he has allowed 12 hits and 12 earned runs. In three July starts, he is 1-2, 7.27. Right-handed batters hit .286 off Pettitte while lefties bat .277 against him. In 10 home starts in 2009, he is 4-3, 5.72. The Yankees are 12-6 when Pettitte starts. They won eight of his first ten starts and are 4-4 over the last eight. Pettitte, who went 14-14, 4.54 last year, has recorded qualithy starts in eight of 18 outings this year. His career record is 223-132, 3.92 in 444 starts. Pettitte, 2009 ERA by month: April: 2.96 May: 4.95 June: 5.06 July: 7.27 Pettitte vs. Baltimore: 2009: No appearances 2008: 3-0, 1.93, three starts (18 2/3IP, 19H) Career: 25-6, 3.73 in 35 starts (222IP, 237H, 82B, 123K) Here are how O's hitters have fared vs. Pettitte: Roberts: 13-50/1/3 Mora: 10-32/1/7, 10 walks Huff: 4-29/0/0, 7 strikeouts Markakis: 8-24/1/3 Wigginton: 2-18/0/1 Zaun: 1-9/0/0 Jones: 4-9/0/0 Izturis: 3-5/0/2 Scott: 0-3/0/0