NEW YORK, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Andy Pettitte turned in his second straight dominant outing since missing a turn, allowing one run and five hits over 7 1/3 innings Tuesday, as the New York Yankees defeated the g Baltimore Orioles, 5-2, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Pettitte (10-5), who walked none and struck out three, improved to 8-2 in the second half of the season. He has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his 11 starts since the All-Star break.
The lefthander missed his scheduled start at Toronto on Aug. 31 due to a stiff lower back, but has yielded just two runs and 11 hits over 14 1/3 innings in his last two outings.
After Ramiro Mendoza got Jerry Hairston Jr. to ground into an inning-ending double play in the top of the eighth, the Yankees broke it open with three runs in the bottom half.
Mendoza gave up a solo homer to Tony Batista in the ninth before Mike Stanton recorded the final out for his fourth save.
The Orioles have dropped five straight games and 15 of their last 16 contests.
Rookie outfielder Juan Rivera, making his ninth consecutive start, drove in the Yankees' first two runs with a sacrifice fly and single, while Drew Henson scored his first major league run on a wild pitch.
Jason Johnson (4-13) took the loss despite yielding only two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings.
