Yankees Sweep the Birds

NEW YORK (AP) – Nick Johnson and Nick Swisher homered, Mark

Teixeira hit a two-run double and New York's depleted bullpen

barely held on as the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on

Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep.

Missing closer Mariano Rivera, the New York relief corps nearly

coughed up a comfortable lead after Andy Pettitte held down the

Orioles – as usual.

With Rivera resting a stiff left side muscle and Joba

Chamberlain unavailable after closing out the last two games, the

Yankees' bullpen struggled. New York led 6-1 after seven innings,

but the Orioles scored four times against five relievers.