Loewen denies Yankees

NEW YORK -- If only Adam Loewen could pitch against the New York Yankees all the time.

Loewen beat the Yankees for the second time in August, and four relievers combined for shutout relief in a 3-2 victory last night that stopped the Orioles' five-game losing streak.

In his 14th major league appearance, Loewen (3-4) threw a career-high 107 pitches, allowing two runs and four hits with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. On Aug. 5, he yielded one hit over 6 1/3 innings during a 5-0 win over New York at Camden Yards.

``He cuts his fastball. He throws a four-seamer," Johnny Damon said. ``I thought we had some good swings against him. Some balls we hit hard found gloves."

Todd Williams, Tim Byrdak, LaTroy Hawkins, and Chris Ray finished, with Ray getting six outs for his 28th save in 30 chances. The bullpen, which has the worst ERA in the American League, blew a two-run lead for Erik Bedard Tuesday night in a 6-3 loss.

New York's AL East lead over the Red Sox was cut to two games.

Baltimore built a 3-0 lead with runs in the first three innings against Cory Lidle (1-2). Nick Markakis homered in the first.

Octavio Dotel returned to the major leagues 14 months after a ligament was replaced in his right elbow, and the hard-throwing righthander threw 13 pitches in the eighth for the Yankees.

Dotel started by striking out Melvin Mora on eight pitches, his fastball reaching 97 miles per hour, then gave up a single to Miguel Tejada and walked Jay Gibbons on four pitches.

Scott Proctor relieved and escaped a bases-loaded jam when Kevin Millar grounded into a double play.