Wouldn't hate to lose a game because of something you did in the first few minutes? Something you just can't, as hard as you try, take back? Kevin Appier, one of the hardest-luck pitchers in major-league history, once gave up a leadoff home run, but not another hit the whole rest of the game.

He lost, 1-0.

Jason Hammel, pitching tonight for the first time in almost a month, opened the game by giving up a single to Derek Jeter and an RBI double to Ichiro Suzuki. Since then, Hammel's retired eight of the nine Yankees he's faced, with the only blemish being Nick Swisher's walk.

Will those first few minutes be enough to beat him, though?

We'll see. It's the bottom of the third inning and CC Sabathia, who looked unhittable in the first two innings, has given up a couple of hits to open the inning and the Orioles have runners on second and third. Stay tuned ...