Orioles torch Hughes for 8 in second as Yanks' pitching falls apart early

BALTIMORE -- Held to four singles one night earlier by CC Sabathia, the Baltimore Orioles bounced back in spectacular fashion against New York Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes.

Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer off Hughes during an eight-run second inning, and the Orioles got 16 hits -- including four home runs -- in a 12-5 victory Saturday.

Playing in his second game back from hip surgery, New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez went 0 for 3 with a walk.

After getting blanked by Sabathia in a 4-0 loss Friday night, the Orioles worked to get their offensive mojo back almost immediately upon arriving at the ballpark Saturday afternoon. Before batting practice, several players took some swings indoors with hitting coach Terry Crowley.

"When I got here today, there was an awful lot of them working with Crow in the cage. Mostly all the guys were looking at video," manager Dave Trembley said. "Their approach in batting practice today was business-like. ... There was a feeling like, 'Hey, we're going to get after it early.'"

And that they did.

The Orioles sent 13 batters to the plate in the second, their most productive inning of the season. Luke Scott and Gregg Zaun each had two of Baltimore's eight hits, and the Yankees fueled the onslaught with an error, a wild pitch and a hit batter.

Nick Markakis added a solo homer in the third, Lou Montanez hit a two-run drive in the fourth and Adam Jones connected in the eighth.

"We all know what we're capable of doing," Jones said. "We all got up a little earlier today, got in the cage and got our work done, and got back on the grind of hitting the ball."

Crowley said, "There was a certain amount of determination to put that one [Friday] behind us and play as hard as we can for nine innings. I'm proud of the way they came back."

Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher homered for the Yankees, who have lost six of seven. New York has yielded 10 runs or more in six games this season; it didn't happen for a second time last year until May 18.

"It's not what we want to do. I think we are capable of pitching much better," manager Joe Girardi said. "Sometimes it's been the starter, sometimes it's been the bullpen."

This time, it was a little of both. Hughes (1-2) gave up eight runs, eight hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings -- the shortest start in his three-year career. His ERA swelled from 2.70 to 8.49.

"It's kind of disheartening when we basically lose the game in the second inning and it's basically all on me," Hughes said.

Orioles starter Adam Eaton (2-3) allowed four runs, four hits and five walks in five innings.

Baltimore's second inning began with three straight singles, and a run came in on an overthrow by Swisher from right field. Hughes then hit Cesar Izturis with a pitch to load the bases, and Brian Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly before Jones doubled in a run. After Markakis got an infield hit, Huff hit an 0-2 pitch over the right-field scoreboard.

Hughes then got the second out, but Scott singled and Montanez walked before Zaun greeted Edwar Ramirez with an RBI single.

"I tried to limit the damage as much as I could. I just wasn't executing pitches," Hughes said. "I let it get out of control real fast."

Markakis' sixth homer made it 9-0, and after Swisher hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, Montanez connected in the bottom half to make it 11-1.

Eaton gave up successive homers to Damon and Teixeira with two outs in the fifth, then retired Rodriguez on a fly to the warning track in center. Swisher homered off Danys Baez in the sixth.

Game notes
RHP Brett Tomko allowed a home run on his second pitch with New York in the 8th. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre before the game. ... Zaun had three hits and is 11 for 23 in his last seven games. ... Teixeira is 6-for-10 lifetime against Eaton with two HRs. ... New York SS Derek Jeter improved to 7 for 7 in stolen-base attempts. ... All eight of Swisher's homers have come on the road.