Chen keeps Yankees bats at bay

BALTIMORE -- Taiwanese lefthander Wei-Yin Chen has barely been in the United States for four months, but he's having little trouble communicating with his teammates.

"We can't speak full sentences," said Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. "But he understands pitching."

The Yankees found that out firsthand last night at Camden Yards, as Chen stymied their bats through seven innings in a 5-2 Orioles victory. The rookie allowed two runs on four hits, struck out four and walked two.

"He's got his feet on the ground," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "He's comfortable. He seems very poised."

Chen did not allow an extra-base hit until Robinson Cano doubled to lead off the seventh. Curtis Granderson homered to left center two batters later. It appeared that Orioles' left fielder Xavier Avery might have had a play on Granderson's home run before a fan interfered, but both Showalter and center fielder Adam Jones said it was a clear home run.

Showalter did imply that the ball landed in the hands of one of the many Yankees fans in attendance.

"The ball would have carried out of the ballpark if nobody's standing there," Showalter said. "I don't know if it was somebody in midnight blue or black and orange, but I got an educated guess. Our goal is to play well enough to where they can't get a ticket."

Chen could help the first-place Orioles (23-14) reach that point. The 26 year old, who spent the previous four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, has helped stabilize a Baltimore rotation that features three starters with ERAs over five.

Tuesdaywas Chen's third appearance of at least seven innings in his past four starts. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any start.

Baltimore's fans gave Chen a standing ovation when he gave way to Pedro Strop before the top of the eighth.

"That felt very good," said Chen through his interpreter.

The Orioles signed Chen to a three-year, $11-million contract this offseason, much less than the six-year, $56-million deal fellow former Japanese-leaguer Yu Darvish signed with Texas.

Chen may not have the talent of Darvish, who dominated the Yankees on April 21, but his manager doesn't think his hot start is a fluke or a matter of hitters being unfamiliar with him.

"There's not many secrets in the game," Showalter said. "They know his pitch sequence, they know what he features. Is it a different look the first time you see him? I think the real question is if and when he struggles for a couple of games how he handles adversity. I hope that doesn't happen, but we all know it will."

Chen faced the Yankees in his major-league debut on April 10 and allowed a home run to Derek Jeter, the first batter he faced, before settling in for a no-decision.

"My first debut I was so nervous but this time I had experience so everything was just fine for me," Chen said.