Yankees Win a Blast

The Yankees won their 8th straight game last night, pounding the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2. Mike Mussina had his longest outing in over a year and the Yankees got home runs from Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, and Hideki Matsui to move over .500 for the first time since early April.

Mussina threw a complete game against the Detroit Tigers on May 30, 2006, but hadn't gone more than 7 1-3 innings until last night. He was able to locate his pitches and threw 101 before being removed by Joe Torre. This time there was no anger in Mussina's post-game voice as there was after his last outing when he was removed after 79 pitches.

The Dbacks to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a double by Mark Reynolds and a sac fly by Chris Young. One wonders if Reynolds would have attempted to score if Melky Cabrera was playing centerfield. Johnny Damon made a rare start out there and his weak throw was well short and late to get Reynolds. The Yankees came right back though.

Jorge Posada drilled a Livan Hernandez pitch into the right field seats for his 8th HR of the season. One inning later Bobby Abreu singled to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and Alex Rodriguez followed with a deep shot that hit the facing of the upper deck. It was A-Rod's major league leading 25th HR and #489 for his career.

In the 4th, the Yankees finished off El-Duque's brother. A-Rod's RBI single pushed the lead to 4-1 and then Hideki Matsui capped off the inning with a 3-run HR, his 7th of the season. Then it was all up to Moose.

Mussina didn't issue a walk, struck out a season high 7 batters, and scattered 6 hits. He left to a standing ovation that including his family.

Brian Bruney decided to make things interesting though in the 9th. Joe Torre, reluctantly, had to get Mariano Rivera up as Bruney issued a lead off walk to Orlando Hudson and gave up an infield single to Chad Tracy. Bruney bounced back, striking out Reynolds, but Torre opted for Mike Myers with the left-handed hitting Stephen Drew due up. Myers did his job, striking out Drew, but fell behind 3-0 to the right-handed hitting Young. Mo was able to take the night off though as Young bounced out to A-Rod to end the game.

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The Yankees moved to within 8.5 games of the Red Sox after the Rockies pounded Schitbag Schilling, 12-2. They also picked up a game on the Tigers in the wild card (4.5), who dropped a 3-2 decision to the Brewers.