--OF Johnny Damon, who left the team Thursday to be with his wife as she gave birth to the couple's fourth child, was back in the lineup Friday night. Damon went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the Yankees' 3-2 win over Baltimore.
--CF Brett Gardner showed off his speed and athleticism in the fourth inning as he raced back to the wall, leapt and stole a home run from the Orioles' Luke Scott. Gardner received a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd, which chanted his name. The rookie also drove in a run with a double in the third inning. --LHP Phil Coke extended his scoreless streak to 10 2/3 innings and striking out the two batters he faced Friday night. Coke has allowed just three hits in that span.
--RHP Carl Pavano won his fourth game, giving up two runs on six hits in five innings. Pavano has not been especially impressive during his 4-1 run as he's posted a 4.99 ERA during that span.
--RHP Mariano Rivera earned his 37th save of the season and came out to his foreboding theme song "Enter Sandman" for one of the final times at Yankee Stadium. Rivera was serenaded with long chants of "Mar-i-ano" by the fans at the stadium, who have seen him help the club to four World Series victories as a reliever.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 -- Rank on the all-time home run list for Alex Rodriguez, who passed Mike Schmidt with his 549th homer on Sept. 3.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's probably 800 players in the big leagues, and the odds of me being involved were probably 2-to-1. It's funny. Somehow I find myself in those situations all the time." -- Alex Rodriguez, on his uncanny ability to find the spotlight, this time as the first player involved in an instant-replay ruling with baseball's new system. Rodriguez's home run call was upheld.
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