Yankees Season Getting Wild

Mike Mussina threw 6 solid innings, and Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera each homered as the Yankees completed a 3 game sweep of the Kansas City Royals, 8-5. With the Detroit Tigers losing their 5th straight game, the Yankees pulled to within a half game in the wild card race.

Gil Meche, who pitched so well 11 days ago in his start against the Bombers in KC, was completely ineffective today. The Yankees jumped on him for 4 runs in the 2nd inning to take control of the afternoon. Meche retired the first 2 hitters of the innings, but walked Robinson Cano and Andy Phillips, and allowed a single to Wilson Betemit in between to load the bases. Cabrera singled in the first run of the game and Derek Jeter drew a 3-2 bases loaded walk for a 2-0 lead. Bobby Abreu lined a single to center to bring home Phillips and Cabrera for a 4-0 advantage.

The Yankees added single runs, in the 3rd on Matsui's 22nd home run. the 100th of his Yankees career, and in the 4th on Alex Rodriguez's sacrifice fly, for a 6-0 lead. A-Rod's RBI gave him a major league leading 109. The end of the 4th was also the end of Meche's day. He dropped to 7-9 with the loss.

Mussina's day was pretty easy, getting Mark Teahen to fly out to end a 2-on, 2-out jam in the 3rd, and held the Royals scoreless until Ross Gload's 2-run home run in the 6th. The Yankees have to be glad not to see Gload again as the 1st Baseman went 13-23 (.565) against them. Moose evened his record at 7-7 with his 3rd straight win.

As it turned out, the Yankees got some much needed insurance in the 6th. Cabrera matched his 2006 total with his 7th home run of the year, off of Leo Nunez. Derek Jeter, who also had a hit and was hit by a pitch, drew his 2nd walk of the day and stole his 12th base. Abreu moved Jeter to 3rd with a single and Matsui brought him home with fly ball to deep right for his 78th run batted in.

Those runs were needed because Brian Bruney and Mike Myers were ineffective for a change. Teahen singled to center off Bruney to drive home David DeJesus, and Esteban German scored when Cabrera booted the ball. When Joey Gaithright singled in a run off of Myers in the 8th, it was suddenly a save situation and Joe Torre did not hesitate in calling on Mariano Rivera.

Mo retired Jason Smith on a fly out to end the 8th and threw a 1-2-3, 9th inning for his 17th (consecutive) save.

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Johnny Damon could not have been happy about sitting out against a right-handed pitcher. Damon had a brief hot streak going before going 0-6 on Saturday.

Melky Cabrera, who started the season so poorly, is hitting .333 since June 1st, and .359 since July 1st.

Mike Mussina's victory was the 246th of his career. Mariano Rivera's save was his 430th.

The Yankees lineup has changed quite a bit over the last 2 months. When the game ended, Bobby Abreu had the lowest average of the starting 9 players - .286.

photos courtesy of AP