Godzilla Stomps Texas 8-5 (5/8)

Matsui 3-run Homer Topples Rangers

Hideki Matsui hit a long 3-run home run to highlight another 5-run inning against Texas as the Yankees held on for an 8-5 win. The Yankees scored 5 runs an inning in each of the three games in the series. This time it was Matsui, bouncing back from an oh-fer on Saturday, to hit a Robinson Tejeda (1-1) to one of the deepest parts of right field. The Yankees weren't finished either. Robinson Cano and Bernie Williams followed with singles and Bubba Crosby was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kelly Stinnett, starting to give Jorge Posada a day off, delivered his first two RBI of the season with a single to left.

Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang (2-1) was much better than his last start in which he walked four batters. This time he didn't issue any free passes and allowed 3 runs in 6 innings for a quality start. Wang scattered 7 hits while striking out two. Wang nearly left the game with only one run allowed, but allowed a two-out two-run single to Hank Blalock in the 6th to cut the lead to 7-3.

Bernie Williams gave the Yankees a little extra breathing room with an RBI single in the 7th. Texas scored unearned runs off Tanyon Sturtze and Mariano Rivera as Sturtze and Andy Phillips made critical errors.

Notes

The Yankees went 5-1 on the road trip, winning the last 5 straight against Tampa Bay and Texas. The Yankees will open a three game series with Boston at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. The Yankees have an eight percentage point lead over the Sox for first place in the AL East.