--RHP Chris Britton was called up to replace RHP Ian Kennedy, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. Kennedy left his start Tuesday after three innings due to the injury. Britton, who has frequently been a yo-yo for the Yankees from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, has a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings with the big-league club in 2008.
--RHP Joba Chamberlain threw the 55 pitches the Yankees had planned for him to throw Wednesday, but 27 of them came in the bullpen after his appearance. In another example of the unique nature of the club trying to stretch Chamberlain out in the majors while transitioning to the bullpen, the rookie threw 1 1/3 innings of relief, then returned to the bullpen after exiting the game to get more work. Chamberlain helped the Yankees get a win and possibly put himself in position to start in injured RHP Ian Kennedy's spot on Tuesday. Manager Joe Girardi said that possibility would be discussed. --1B Jason Giambi hit his second home run in as many games, and both reached Eutaw Street at Baltimore's Camden Yards. Regardless of the impressive distance, Giambi was happy just to be hitting again after his early-season struggles left people wondering how much he had left. Giambi went 2-for-3 and upped his average to .244.
--DH Hideki Matsui remained hot, going 2-for-4 Wednesday night to increase his average to .330. The Yankees' top hitter had started the season strong before faltering, but has 14 hits in his last 27 at-bats.
--RHP Mariano Rivera has been as dominant as ever this season and his reliability prompted manager Joe Girardi to turn to him in relief of Joba Chamberlain on Wednesday night. Ordinarily that would be the normal formula, but with Chamberlain needing to throw more pitches as he transitions toward the rotation and protecting a two-run lead, Girardi stuck to the traditional formula and called for Rivera. The closer earned his 13th save and lowered his ERA to 0.39. Chamberlain then got the rest of his work
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Run allowed by RHP Mariano Rivera in his first 19 appearances this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The dirt clearly goes on his shoe. That was not my intent." -- Joe Girardi, after watching a replay of his Billy Martin imitation of an argument, in which he kicked dirt on the umpire.
