By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — Robinson Cano continued his torrid hitting with two home runs to back a masterful performance on the mound by A.J. Burnett as the Yankees blanked the Orioles 4-0 Thursday in Baltimore.
Cano homered to deep right center off rookie Brian Matusz in the third inning to give New York a 2-0 lead. The Yankees second baseman hit another solo shot off Alberto Castillo in the ninth inning to stake the Yankees to a four-run lead.
“When I grow up I want to be like him,” teammate Nick Swisher said of Cano, the Associated Press reported. “The dude’s on fire. He’s in a zone right now and not missing any pitches.”
Cano is batting a team-high .407 and leads New York with eight home runs and 17 RBIs. He's hit safely in eight straight games, going 16-for-24 at the plate during that stretch.
“It feels good, but not because I’m having a good season,” said Cano, who went 8 for 13 with three homers during the three-game series against the Orioles. “I’m happy the team is winning and I’m contributing.”
The Yankees didn't need much offense Thursday behind Burnett, who posted his most dominant start of the season.
The tall right-hander stymied Orioles hitters, holding them to three hits over eight scoreless innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0 for the first time in his 11-year career.
Burnett, who is 10-2 lifetime against Baltimore, struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.43 on the season.
The Yankees will send lefty Andy Pettitte to the mound Friday as they return home to Yankee Stadium to play three games against the Chicago White Sox.
