(My Sportsbook) - The New York Yankees will try and keep their slim hopes for a 10th straight AL East title alive this evening when they begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

The Yankees, who clinched their 13th straight postseason berth on Wednesday, kept the pressure on the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, as Jose Molina's two-run single in the seventh inning lifted New York to a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

Phil Hughes (5-3) started and threw seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits for the Yankees, who now trail Boston by just two games with three to play in the AL East after the Red Sox lost to Minnesota on Thursday.

The Yankees will turn tonight to veteran Mike Mussina, who has won his last three starts.

After being removed from the rotation following a three-start losing streak that saw him pitch to a 17.69 earned run average, Mussina has returned with a vengeance, winning his last three outings by giving up just three runs.

Mussina picked career win No. 250 on Sunday against Toronto, as he surrendered three runs and seven hits in seven innings to run his record to 11-10 on the season to go along with a 4.96 ERA.

The 38-year-old right-hander, who pitched the first 10 years of his career in Baltimore, held the O's to three hits over seven scoreless innings to get the win two starts ago and is 10-6 against his former team with a 4.27 ERA.

Baltimore will counter with righty Jon Leicester, who is 2-3 with a 6.51 ERA. Leicester lost his second straight start on Sunday against Texas, as he yielded three runs and seven hits in eight innings.

Leicester was on the losing end of Mussina's gem on September 18 in his only other appearance against them. He gave up six runs and six hits in four innings of that on.

Baltimore, meanwhile, enters tonight's tilt needing one win in its final three games to ensure it won't finish in last place. The O's, though, have lost 26 of their last 36 games.

Despite its overall struggles this season, Baltimore has played the Yankees tough in 2007, winning eight of the 15 matchups, including four of six at Camden Yards.