(Best E Casino) - Joba Chamberlain tries to follow up a brilliant performance his last time out, as the New York Yankees try and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

Chamberlain had perhaps his best effort as a starter on Friday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings to run his record to 3-3, while lowering his earned run average to 2.30.

The 22-year-old right-hander has faced the Orioles seven times out of the bullpen, but has yet to record a decision, while pitching to a 1.50 ERA in those outings.

New York could certainly use a strong outing from Chamberlain today, as it tries to avoid its first three-game sweep by the O's in the Bronx since June 1986. The Yanks dropped their third straight game in the second tilt of this series on Tuesday, despite a furious rally in the ninth, 7-6.

After Mariano Rivera served up a solo home run to Aubrey Huff in the top half of the ninth to push the O's lead to six, Johnny Damon led off the home half of the frame with a single before Derek Jeter walked to set up an RBI double by Bobby Abreu. After an Alex Rodriguez strikeout, Jason Giambi hit a shot to center that bounced off the pitching rubber and into the outfield to score Jeter and Abreu. Justin Christian then pinch-ran for Giambi and promptly stole second. However, Baltimore closer George Sherrill worked out of the jam by striking out Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit to end the game.

Huff matched a career high with four hits, knocked in four and scored twice, while Kevin Millar added a solo blast for Baltimore, which has won three in a row.

Daniel Cabrera (7-6) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two in seven-plus strong innings before being ejected for a high and inside pitch that hit Rodriguez, who had homered in his previous at-bat.

Darrell Rasner (5-8) pitched six-plus innings giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks with just one strikeout for the Yankees, whose slide has come on the heels of an eight-game winning streak.

Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with a solo home run while Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi each had two-run singles.

Heading to the hill for Baltimore today will be righty Dennis Sarfate, who will be making the first major league start of his career. In 45 relief appearances this season, Sarfate is 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA.

Sarfate, a native of New York, has yet to give up a run in three appearances against the Yanks.

Although the Orioles reside at the bottom of the AL East, the club has given New York its share of problems this season. Baltimore has won seven of its 11 meetings with the Bronx Bombers so far in 2008, although the Yankees took two of three from the O's at home in May.