Jones, Arrieta help Orioles deny CC Sabathia his 20th victory with 6-2 win over Yankees

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Orioles deny CC Sabathia his 20th victory

NEW YORK — Jake Arrieta pitched efficiently into the seventh inning, Adam Jones had a two-run single in a three-run first and the Baltimore Orioles denied their nemesis, CC Sabathia, his 20th victory with a 6-2 win Tuesday night over the New York Yankees.

Buoyed by five early runs, Arrieta earned his second win in 10 starts, helping Baltimore clinch its second straight series win against the top two teams in the AL East. The Orioles took two of three games from Tampa Bay last weekend. Winners of four in a row, they can complete their first three-game sweep in the Bronx in 24 years on Wednesday.

Last-place Baltimore is 21-13 under Buck Showalter, who managed the Yankees from 1992-95.

Sabathia (19-6) came in 4-0 this season and 13-1 overall against the Orioles, but the big lefty was off his form from the start in the Yankees’ third straight loss.

He gave up four hits, three runs and a walk before getting an out, then allowed a long two-run homer to Nolan Reimold with two outs in the third. The loss ended Sabathia’s streak of 21 starts at Yankee Stadium without a defeat. He had been 16-0 since early July 2009.

Brian Roberts led off with a single and advanced on a passed ball by Jorge Posada. Felix Pie walked and Nick Markakis singled to load the bases before Ty Wigginton made it 1-0 with a single to center field.

Jones followed with his single to left, and Posada couldn’t handle Brett Gardner’s perfect one-hop throw, allowing Markakis to safely touch home plate.

The Yankees appeared ready to rally for their ace in the bottom half, getting singles from three of the first four batters. Robinson Cano, batting fourth with Alex Rodriguez out of the staring lineup as a precaution after playing two straight games in his return from the disabled list, got his 95th RBI to make it 3-1.

But Nick Swisher, running gingerly on a sore knee, grounded into a double play. Arrieta (5-6) got Posada to ground into a double play in the second to wipe out Lance Berkman’s leadoff single.

Arrieta then didn’t give up a hit until the fifth, when Berkman led off with another single. The designated hitter scored, stumbling around third and making a nifty sideways lunge for home plate on Posada’s double off the wall to make it 5-2.

Markakis upped the lead to 6-2 with an RBI single after Curtis Granderson failed to catch Josh Bell’s long drive to center for a two-base error opening the seventh. Markakis’ one-out hit ended Sabathia’s night.

Sabathia gave up nine hits and a season high-tying six runs — five earned — in 6 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out five in having his six-start winning streak snapped.

Sabathia sat in the dugout, shaking his head disappointedly while watching Kerry Wood finish the seventh.

The Orioles nearly gave back the runs in a sloppy seventh. Berkman doubled leading off for his third hit and Posada walked. Granderson hit a shallow popup that Jones slowed up on in shallow center, forcing shortstop Robert Andino to make a lunging attempt to catch. The ball hit off his glove, but Jones forced Posada at second.

Pinch-hitting against reliever Matt Albers, Rodriguez hit a scorching liner at Bell, who knocked it down at third base. Bell recovered to force Granderson.

Arrieta gave up eight hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings.

NOTES: U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … The Orioles recalled LHPs Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk and Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie. … The Yankees were last swept by the Orioles in New York from June 6-8, 1986.