Phillips, Giambi Slug Beckett and Sox 13-5

7 Run Outburst Keys Victory

Mike Mussina has picked up his teammates almost every time he's stepped on the mound this season. Last night the Yankees offense decided to give him a break. Andy Phillips and Jason Giambi smacked 3-run home runs in a 7 run second inning and the Yankees rolled over the Red Sox 13-5 to capture the first of the four game series. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett got yanked after 1 1-3 innings, his shortest stint since an arm injury forced him out of a 2003 Marlins game.

The tone of the ball game was set in the first inning. Coco Crisp led off with a double, but Mussina struck out Mark Loretta, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez to escape unscathed. The Yankees lineup has had to rely less on power and more on aggressive play, and that's what produced the first run of the game. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Melky Cabrera broke for second when Beckett's pitch eluded catcher Jason Varitek. Varitek's throw to second sailed into center field and Cabrera broke for third. Beckett and Varitek both broke for third base to cover/back up. Third base coach Larry Bowa held up the stop sign, but Cabrera seeing any empty home plate ran through it. He outraced Varitek to the plate as relay man Kevin Youkilis throw eluded the moving target. Cabrera scored, igniting both his teammates and the fans.

Mussina allowed 3 straight singles including an RBI hit to Mike Lowell to tie the game at one in the top of the second. Jason Varitek's double play grounder pushed ahead the go ahead run, but killed any chance of a bigger rally. The Yankees jumped all over Beckett in the bottom of the 2nd and sent him to an early shower. After singles by Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano, Phillips blasted a 3-run shot to left for a 4-2 lead. Singles by Bernie Williams, Miguel Cairo, and Johnny Damon followed for a 5th run before a single out had been recorded. Beckett finally retired Cabrera on a fielder's choice, but Giambi blasted a 3-run shot, his 16th home run of the season, off the facing of the upper deck to break the game open. A walk to Alex Rodriguez finally convinced Terry Francona to pull Beckett from the game.

The Yankees scored 5 more runs of the Sox pen in the 3rd as Cabrera and Cano both delivered 2-run doubles, and Posada was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Mussina labored for the rest of the night allowing 5 runs, 4 earned in 6 innings. But he pitched to the scoreboard and picked up his 8th win in 9 tries.

Notes

Mussina picked up his 2,478th strikeout, tying him with Jack Morris for 9th on the all-time list. He came into the game with an AL best 2.48 ERA, but his worst outing of the season pumped it up to 2.67.

Derek Jeter originally thought he'd been in the starting lineup last night after being hit on the hand in Sunday's game, but was unable to grip a ball to throw it and sat out. He's out for tonight's game and could be out longer.

The Yankees set a club record by producing double figures in hits for the 12th straight game. The previous record was held by the 1937 team that included a 22-year old Joe DiMaggio.

Shawn Chacon felt good one day after his rehab stint in Trenton and said he's ready to face the A's on Friday night. That will of course be a decision for Joe Torre. Aaron Small's ineffectiveness will most definitely play a part in the decision making process.

The Yankees have the 21st in today's amateur draft and are expected to take a pitcher.