BALTIMORE -- The Orioles won a close game despite having a short bench on Thursday night, when they executed a late comeback against the White Sox and voluntarily lost their designated hitter. Baltimore never had to let its pitcher hit, but manager Dave Trembley has said he doesn't feel handicapped with a short bench -- even with the Yankees coming to town.

"I haven't been in a position where it's come up," he said before Thursday's win. "What's needed to be covered is the pitching, and what's needed to be covered is the guys down in the bullpen. We've done such a good job of not being overextended."

The Orioles ran through all of their substitutes late in the game Thursday, thanks to Jay Payton pinch-hitting for shortstop Luis Hernandez and Ramon Hernandez hitting for utilityman Brandon Fahey. Trembley had to send designated hitter Aubrey Huff to third base and two of his pitchers to the batting cages as a possible contingency plan that never came up.

Baltimore went to a 13-man pitching staff last week after a rainout caused a doubleheader. That alignment has stuck because the Orioles haven't gotten a lot of innings from their starters, and it may stay for the foreseeable future.

"I would think we're going to stay with what we have," said Trembley, "until we feel comfortable with our starting pitching getting us consistently deep into games. Until that point in time comes, I think it's best for us to stay with 13 pitchers."

The Orioles will play host to the Yankees and will start their series with a half-game lead over their division rivals. Baltimore hasn't won the season series against New York since 1997 and is 57-110 against the Yankees over that span. The Orioles will have some momentum on their side, though, thanks to their adrenaline-fueled win on Thursday night.

"It was good, especially since we got New York coming in," said Adam Jones, who delivered the winning hit. "I don't know how good they're playing right now, but we've got them coming in and we're trying to take a series from them."

Pitching matchup
BAL: RHP Daniel Cabrera (0-0, 5.94 ERA)
Cabrera has a 3-6 record and a 4.95 ERA in 13 career starts against New York.

NYY: RHP Phil Hughes (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Hughes went six innings in his season debut, but he has been knocked out early in two straight starts.

Bird bites
The Orioles went 4-87 when trailing after eight innings last season, but they already are 2-7 this season. ... Baltimore has scored 19 runs in its last six games. The Orioles are 5-1 in one-run games after going 13-31 last season. ... Baltimore will have three games at home this weekend before embarking on a seven-game road trip.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• MASN 2 HD

On radio
• WHFS 105.7

Up next
• Saturday: Orioles (Brian Burres, 1-1, 5.40) vs. Yankees (Ian Kennedy, 0-1, 8.74), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Orioles (Steve Trachsel, 1-2, 5.65) vs. Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 2-1, 3.38), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day