Yankees' offense hot heading into series with Orioles (Schoop homers)

The New York Yankees' offense will provide a real challenge tonight for Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, pitching for the first time since he allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings April 4 against Tampa Bay. The Yankees have scored 32 runs in winning their last three games before they were slowed down not by pitching, but by rainouts the past two days. In Tuesday's win at Cleveland, the Yankees recorded season highs in runs (14), hits (18), homers (5) and extra-base hits (11). That was just the sixth time in the last 60 years a Yankees team had 11 extra-base hits in one game and first time since Aug. 21, 2009. Their 32 runs in a three-game stretch is their most since they also had 32 over three from Aug. 2-4, 2007. New York has a team average of .281 to rank second in the AL and is also second in homers (15), slugging (.505) and OPS (.856). The Yankees are tied with the Orioles for second in the league in runs scored with 49. Over the last two games, Robinson Cano is 7-for-10 with three doubles, three homers, six runs and seven RBIs. That is pretty good. Kevin Youkilis is batting .367 and has hit safely in every game this year so far. Gonzalez went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two regular season starts against the Yankees in 2012 and then allowed just one run in seven innings in Game 3 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. So that is a 2.18 ERA in three starts against New York. Intriguing match-up between a hot team at bat against a pitcher that has done well in the past against it. How will Gonzalez do tonight? Schoop goes deep: Orioles No. 3 prospect Jonathan Schoop hit his first Triple-A homer tonight when he took Durhamn's J.D. Martin deep in the third inning. His solo homer was also his first extra-base hit with the Tides after beginning the year batting .174 at 4-for-23. Delmarva shortstop Adrian Marin, the Orioles' third-round pick last June, left the Shorebirds' game tonight after grounding out in the top of the second at Hagerstown. Anthony Caronia replaced him as the bottom of the second inning began. No report yet why Marin left that game. Frederick pitcher Tim Berry retired the first 12 batters he faced tonight at Wilmington. At last check, the Keys had a 1-0 lead in the fifth against Blue Rocks pitcher Kyle Zimmer, Kansas City's No. 1 prospect. Zimmer was taken fifth in the first round last June, one pick after the O's selected Kevin Gausman.