CLEVELAND — The midges didn't affect Joba Chamberlain in his first start in Cleveland — and neither did the Indians' hitters.

Chamberlain allowed two runs in a career-high eight innings and the New York Yankees set a record for consecutive games without making an error in a 5-2 victory against Cleveland last night.

Chamberlain (3-1) retired the first 11 batters before Victor Martinez's home run in the fourth. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five. He showed great velocity, still hitting 97 mph on the radar gun in the eighth.

"Maybe he's mad at the midges," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Bugs headlined Chamberlain's relief appearance in the American League Division Series two years ago, when they swarmed and distracted him while he walked Grady Sizemore and threw two wild pitches that enabled Cleveland to tie — and ultimately win — the game. The Indians went on to eliminate New York in four games.

Last night was Chamberlain's first start at Progressive Field, and the bugs resurfaced in the eighth. Just not to the extent of two years ago.

"I started to see them coming, I'll be honest," Chamberlain said. "I actually swallowed one when I was walking around the mound to start (the eighth)."

The Yankees played error free for the 18th straight game, surpassing Boston's major league mark of 17 set in 2006. New York's last error came May 13 at Toronto when shortstop Ramiro Pena misplayed a ground ball.

Greg Aquino (1-1) walked the bases loaded in the seventh before Nick Swisher doubled home a pair of runs against him and Alex Rodriguez singled home two more.

ORIOLES 1, MARINERS 0:

Rich Hill threw seven innings and Aubrey Huff drove in the game's only run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth for visiting Baltimore. Hill (2-0), who missed the start of the season with a strained elbow, struck out seven and walked three. Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 25, tying a career-high set in 2007.

WHITE SOX 6, ATHLETICS 2:

Jim Thome hit the 550th homer of his career in the eighth inning to put host Chicago ahead. A.J. Pierzynski homered and Scott Podsednik scored two runs for the White Sox, who won for the fourth straight time and have won 10 of their last 13.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

REDS 5, CARDINALS 3:

Mike Lincoln and four other Cincinnati relievers allowed one earned run in eight innings after Edinson Volquez left early in his first start since coming off the disabled list, and the visiting Reds beat St. Louis. Lincoln (1-0) gave up only Colby Rasmus' homer in three innings, and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth. Volquez left complaining of numbness in the pinky and ring finger of his pitching hand.

ASTROS 4, ROCKIES 1:

Roy Oswalt had a season-high eight strikeouts, Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and Houston snapped a four-game losing skid at home. Oswalt (2-2) improved to 7-1 in 10 career starts against Colorado. He allowed six hits and two walks in seven innings.

MARLINS 7, BREWERS 4:

Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida had RBI singles in Florida's five-run sixth inning, and the host Marlins beat Milwaukee. Jorge Cantu had two RBIs for Florida, and Ramirez finished with three hits.

PIRATES 8, METS 5:

Andy LaRoche had three RBIs and host Pittsburgh scored five runs in eighth inning to beat New York. Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson had three hits apiece for Pittsburgh, which came back from a 5-0 deficit.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, DODGERS 2:

Billy Buckner threw six scoreless innings and rookie Josh Whitesell hit a two-run double, leading visiting Arizona over Los Angeles. Buckner (2-1) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two.

PHILLIES 5, PADRES 3:

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning and visiting Philadelphia beat San Diego. Maui's Shane Victorino and Utley had two RBIs apiece.