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ATL@NYY: Garcia strikes out two over three scoreless

The paranoia can stop in New York, at least for now. The Yankees won their first game on Monday, avoiding what would have been the club's first 0-4 start since 1973.

Now, the deja vu feeling could be creeping up for the Orioles.

Although they sit at 3-1 following Monday's 6-2 loss, the Orioles know all too well what can happen. Baltimore -- which has placed last in the American League East in each of the past four seasons -- began last season 6-1 before dropping eight straight. By mid-May, the Orioles were back in last place and spent only three days out of it for the rest of the season.

The key to this season's good start has been Baltimore's starting pitching, which had allowed only one earned run in 23 innings before Monday's game, leaving Orioles manager Buck Showalter pleased.

"We had some good ones last year -- we are hoping something happens that doesn't make it Groundhog Day," Showalter said prior to Monday's loss. "I like where our guys are mentally and emotionally. We'll see. The competition's always there. But we feel good about the work they put in up to this point."

Monday's win was more of the same for the Yankees. New York won the season series against Baltimore last year, 13-5, and has not lost any of the last 14 season series against the O's.

Taking the hill for New York on Tuesday will be right-hander Freddy Garcia, who's beginning his 14th Major League season. Garcia enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2011, going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA while throwing 146 2/3 innings. He earned a spot in this year's rotation due to a strong spring and right-hander Michael Pineda's right shoulder tendinitis.

Yankees: Jeter, A-Rod rake vs. O's
Shortstop Derek Jeter leads all active Major Leaguers in games (253), runs scored (194) and doubles (63) against Baltimore, and he's second with 125 RBIs. The active player with the most RBIs against Baltimore is third baseman Alex Rodriguez, with 187. Rodriguez also has 57 home runs against the Orioles, the most among active players.

• Working toward a return to the Majors, Andy Pettitte made his first Minor League start on Monday night, allowing one run on two hits in three innings for Class A Advanced Tampa. He struck out two and walked none.

• April 10, 1913 -- 99 years ago Tuesday -- was the first game New York used "Yankees" as its official team name. Prior to 1913, the club had been called the Highlanders.

Orioles: Chen to debut
Wei-Yin Chen, a 26-year-old Taiwanese left-hander signed to a three-year deal by the O's this past offseason, will make his Major League debut on Tuesday night. Chen was slated as the club's No. 5 pitcher coming out of Spring Training, in part to help him get acclimated to Major League life. Chen adjusted well in Grapefruit League play, going 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five games.

Despite that Spring Training success, Chen admitted he'll probably feel some additional pressure in his debut.

"I wouldn't think that's a stretch," Chen said. "But all I can do is prepare now and focus on every pitch [Tuesday] and do my job."

Worth noting
• Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is a .365 career hitter in 58 games at Camden Yards and has hit safely in 29 of his last 31 games in Baltimore.

• Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis is a .385 (5-for-13) career hitter against Garcia, while Mark Reynolds has four hits -- two doubles and two homers -- against the right-hander.

• The Yankees have won 23 of their last 32 games in Baltimore.

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