Whiff-happy Gonzalez leads Orioles with career night

BALTIMORE -- Miguel Gonzalez was the star in the O's 4-3 win over the Yankees on Tuesday night, firing seven innings of one-run baseball that set the tone in the series-evening victory.

"Against the Yankees, you can't give in," Gonzalez said. "Every pitch has to be a quality pitch."

Gonzalez (1-1) pounded the strike zone, retiring 10 in a row at one point and setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts. In five career starts at home versus New York, Gonzalez has five quality starts.

"Miguel had one of those nights where he had a feel for the split," manager Buck Showalter said of Gonzalez, who took a shutout into the sixth and threw 108 pitches. "Third inning picked up a good feel for it. With that many left-handed hitters in the lineup, a lot of them switch, you better, ... That's why Miguel's had some good luck against teams that are predominantly left-handed."

His command was also much-improved from his season debut at Tampa Bay, as the righty -- who has pitched to a 1.42 ERA in his first two starts this season -- issued just one walk.

"Staying close," Gonzalez said of his biggest adjustment on Tuesday. "I think in my bullpen I worked on it, and it really worked. Tried not to do too much and I think staying through the ball and to Caleb [Joseph, catcher] really helped a lot. Obviously we had it going."