GAME THREAD: AL: BALTIMORE (64-85) at NY YANKEES (86-64)

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: G Molina catching.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: B Sardinha (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 6 0 1 5 0 12 13 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ROB BELL
NYY - JOSE VERAS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B FAHEY (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
T REDMAN (.330, 0-FOR-3)
N MARKAKIS (.290, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS NY YANKEES (12) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .291
B Fahey 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
T Redman cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .330
N Markakis rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
M Tejada ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
L Hernandez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
K Millar dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Huff 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
M Mora 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
a-J House ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
R Hernandez c 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .246
b-G Molina ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
F Bynum lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .256

Totals 26 0 3 0 1 7 7

a-struck out swinging for M Mora in the 8th; b-fouled out to first for R
Hernandez in the 8th.

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Huff 1. GIDP - T Redman.
Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: PB - R Hernandez.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .258
a-S Duncan ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .254
D Jeter ss 4 2 3 0 1 0 2 .319
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Abreu rf 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 .287
B Sardinha rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
A Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 .310
W Betemit 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .227
H Matsui lf 5 2 2 3 0 1 1 .289
J Posada c 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 .337
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244
R Cano 2b 4 2 3 2 0 0 0 .302
D Mientkiewicz 1b 4 1 2 4 0 1 2 .248
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 3 0 0 1 .283

Totals 36 12 13 12 5 6 17

a-struck out swinging for J Damon in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - B Abreu (37, J Leicester); H Matsui (27, J Leicester); R Cano
(38, R Cherry); D Jeter (34, F Cabrera). HR - D Mientkiewicz (5, 4th inning off
J Leicester 2 on, 1 Out). SF - M Cabrera. RBI - H Matsui 3 (98), R Cano 2 (87),
D Mientkiewicz 4 (22), M Cabrera 3 (65). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - J Damon 1, D Jeter 1, A Rodriguez 1, J Molina 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Mussina-D Jeter-D Mientkiewicz).


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 000 000 00 -- 0
NY YANKEES - 000 601 50 -- 12
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester 4 6 6 6 1 2 1 7.78
R Cherry 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 6.07
F Cabrera 1/3 2 4 4 2 0 0 7.68
R Bell 1 2/3 4 1 1 0 2 0 6.65

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 7 3 0 0 1 6 0 5.01
J Veras 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.50

Pitches-strikes: J Leicester 76-47; R Cherry 43-23; F Cabrera 31-16; R Bell
29-19; M Mussina 98-65; J Veras 8-5. Ground balls-fly balls: J Leicester 5-5; R
Cherry 1-3; F Cabrera 0-1; R Bell 2-1; M Mussina 9-6; J Veras 1-1. Batters
faced: J Leicester 19; R Cherry 9; F Cabrera 5; R Bell 9; M Mussina 24; J Veras
3.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

Weather: 65 degrees, clear. Wind: 4 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Duncan in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B Fahey (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: RON VILLONE (0-0, 4.66) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 12

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B FAHEY (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Villone relieved J Veras.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B Fahey (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Villone relieved J Veras.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B Fahey (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: P Bako hit for N Markakis.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: P Bako (.204, 1 HR, 8 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 6 0 1 5 0 x 12 13 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BAL - JON LEICESTER, ROCKY CHERRY (5TH), FERNANDO CABRERA (7TH), ROB
BELL (7TH) AND RAMON HERNANDEZ, GUSTAVO MOLINA (8TH)

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, JOSE VERAS (8TH), RON VILLONE
(9TH), RON VILLONE (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA, JOSE MOLINA (8TH)

HOME RUNS: BAL - NONE

NYY - DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ (5) OFF JON LEICESTER IN THE 4TH, 2 ON</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 6 0 1 5 0 x 12 13 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BAL - JON LEICESTER, ROCKY CHERRY (5TH), FERNANDO CABRERA (7TH), ROB
BELL (7TH) AND RAMON HERNANDEZ, GUSTAVO MOLINA (8TH)

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, JOSE VERAS (8TH), RON VILLONE
(9TH), RON VILLONE (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA, JOSE MOLINA (8TH)


WP - MIKE MUSSINA (10-10)
LP - JON LEICESTER (2-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: BAL - NONE

NYY - DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ (5) OFF JON LEICESTER IN THE 4TH, 2 ON


TIME: 3:01 ATT: 52,685

PROBABLES: BAL - BRIAN BURRES (6-5, 5.47)
NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (13-8, 3.89)</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS NY YANKEES (12) - FINAL

BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .291
B Fahey 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
T Redman cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .326
N Markakis rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
c-P Bako ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203
M Tejada ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
L Hernandez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
K Millar dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Huff 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
M Mora 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
a-J House ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
R Hernandez c 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .246
b-G Molina ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
F Bynum lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .256

Totals 29 0 3 0 1 7 8

a-struck out swinging for M Mora in the 8th; b-fouled out to first for R
Hernandez in the 8th; c-lined out to shortstop for N Markakis in the 9th.

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Huff 1. GIDP - T Redman 2.
Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: PB - R Hernandez.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .258
a-S Duncan ph-dh-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .254
D Jeter ss 4 2 3 0 1 0 2 .319
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Abreu rf 3 2 1 0 1 0 1 .287
B Sardinha rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
A Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 .310
W Betemit 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .227
H Matsui lf 5 2 2 3 0 1 1 .289
R Villone p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Posada c 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 .337
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244
R Cano 2b 4 2 3 2 0 0 0 .302
D Mientkiewicz 1b 4 1 2 4 0 1 2 .248
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 3 0 0 1 .283

Totals 36 12 13 12 5 6 17

a-struck out swinging for J Damon in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - B Abreu (37, J Leicester); H Matsui (27, J Leicester); R Cano
(38, R Cherry); D Jeter (34, F Cabrera). HR - D Mientkiewicz (5, 4th inning off
J Leicester 2 on, 1 Out). SF - M Cabrera. RBI - H Matsui 3 (98), R Cano 2 (87),
D Mientkiewicz 4 (22), M Cabrera 3 (65). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - J Damon 1, D Jeter 1, A Rodriguez 1, J Molina 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - A Gonzalez (1, ground ball). DP: 2 (M Mussina-D Jeter-D
Mientkiewicz, W Betemit-R Cano-D Mientkiewicz).


----------------------------------------------------
BALTIMORE - 000 000 000 -- 0
NY YANKEES - 000 601 50x -- 12
----------------------------------------------------

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Leicester (L, 2-2) 4 6 6 6 1 2 1 7.78
R Cherry 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 6.07
F Cabrera 1/3 2 4 4 2 0 0 7.68
R Bell 1 2/3 4 1 1 0 2 0 6.65

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina (W, 10-10) 7 3 0 0 1 6 0 5.01
J Veras 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.50
R Villone 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: J Leicester 76-47; R Cherry 43-23; F Cabrera 31-16; R Bell
29-19; M Mussina 98-65; J Veras 8-5; R Villone 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Leicester 5-5; R Cherry 1-3; F Cabrera 0-1; R Bell 2-1; M Mussina 9-6; J Veras
1-1; R Villone 2-1. Batters faced: J Leicester 19; R Cherry 9; F Cabrera 5; R
Bell 9; M Mussina 24; J Veras 3; R Villone 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Andy Fletcher. 2B--Mike Reilly. 3B--Jeff
Kellogg.

T--3:01. Att--52,685.
Weather: 65 degrees, clear. Wind: 4 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BALTIMORE (0) AT NY YANKEES (12) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 4TH: D Jeter singled to left. B Abreu doubled to left, D Jeter
to third. A Rodriguez struck out swinging. H Matsui doubled to right, D Jeter
and B Abreu scored. J Posada walked. R Cano singled to center, H Matsui
scored, J Posada to second. D Mientkiewicz homered to right, J Posada and
R Cano scored. M Cabrera popped out to second. J Damon flied out to center.
(6 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 6.

NY YANKEES 6TH: J Posada walked. R Cano doubled to right center, J Posada
to third. D Mientkiewicz struck out swinging. M Cabrera hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Posada scored. J Damon popped out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 7.

NY YANKEES 7TH: F Cabrera relieved R Cherry. D Jeter doubled to deep
center. D Jeter to third on passed ball by R Hernandez. B Abreu walked.
A Rodriguez popped out to first. H Matsui singled to left center, D Jeter
scored, B Abreu to second. J Posada walked, B Abreu to third, H Matsui to
second. R Bell relieved F Cabrera. R Cano singled to center, B Abreu scored,
H Matsui to third, J Posada to second. D Mientkiewicz singled to center,
H Matsui scored, J Posada to third, R Cano to second. M Cabrera singled to left,
J Posada and R Cano scored, D Mientkiewicz to second. S Duncan hit for
J Damon. S Duncan struck out swinging. D Jeter grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, M Cabrera out at second. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 12.</div>

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BALTIMORE (0) AT NY YANKEES (12) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baltimore Starting Lineups -- B Roberts 2B, T Redman CF, N Markakis RF,
M Tejada SS, K Millar DH, A Huff 1B, M Mora 3B, R Hernandez C, F Bynum LF,
J Leicester RHP.

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon DH, D Jeter SS, B Abreu RF, A Rodriguez 3B,
H Matsui LF, J Posada C, R Cano 2B, D Mientkiewicz 1B, M Cabrera CF, M Mussina RHP.

Umpires -- Eric Cooper (HP), Andy Fletcher (1B), Mike Reilly (2B), Jeff Kellogg
(3B).

Gametime Weather: 65 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 4 mph.


BALTIMORE 1ST: B Roberts walked. T Redman grounded into double play,
pitcher to shortstop to first, B Roberts out at second. N Markakis struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon struck out swinging. D Jeter singled to center.
B Abreu grounded out to second, D Jeter to second. A Rodriguez grounded out to
third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 0.

BALTIMORE 2ND: M Tejada grounded out to shortstop. K Millar flied out to
center. A Huff flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: H Matsui grounded out to shortstop. J Posada lined out to
shortstop. R Cano flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 0.

BALTIMORE 3RD: M Mora struck out looking. R Hernandez singled to left.
F Bynum struck out looking. B Roberts grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: D Mientkiewicz grounded out to catcher. M Cabrera grounded
out to second. J Damon flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 0.

BALTIMORE 4TH: T Redman grounded out to first. N Markakis struck out
swinging. M Tejada grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: D Jeter singled to left. B Abreu doubled to left, D Jeter
to third. A Rodriguez struck out swinging. H Matsui doubled to right, D Jeter
and B Abreu scored. J Posada walked. R Cano singled to center, H Matsui
scored, J Posada to second. D Mientkiewicz homered to right, J Posada and
R Cano scored. M Cabrera popped out to second. J Damon flied out to center.
(6 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 6.

BALTIMORE 5TH: K Millar fouled out to catcher. A Huff grounded out to
first. M Mora grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 6.

NY YANKEES 5TH: R Cherry relieved J Leicester. D Jeter walked. B Abreu
flied out to left. A Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third,
D Jeter out at second. H Matsui struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 6.

BALTIMORE 6TH: R Hernandez singled to right. F Bynum struck out swinging.
B Roberts flied out to left. T Redman flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 6.

NY YANKEES 6TH: J Posada walked. R Cano doubled to right center, J Posada
to third. D Mientkiewicz struck out swinging. M Cabrera hit sacrifice fly to
center, J Posada scored. J Damon popped out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 7.

BALTIMORE 7TH: N Markakis lined out to pitcher. M Tejada reached on
infield single to pitcher. K Millar grounded out to pitcher, M Tejada to
second. A Huff struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 7.

NY YANKEES 7TH: F Cabrera relieved R Cherry. D Jeter doubled to deep
center. D Jeter to third on passed ball by R Hernandez. B Abreu walked.
A Rodriguez popped out to first. H Matsui singled to left center, D Jeter
scored, B Abreu to second. J Posada walked, B Abreu to third, H Matsui to
second. R Bell relieved F Cabrera. R Cano singled to center, B Abreu scored,
H Matsui to third, J Posada to second. D Mientkiewicz singled to center,
H Matsui scored, J Posada to third, R Cano to second. M Cabrera singled to left,
J Posada and R Cano scored, D Mientkiewicz to second. S Duncan hit for
J Damon. S Duncan struck out swinging. D Jeter grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, M Cabrera out at second. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0,
NY YANKEES 12.

BALTIMORE 8TH: A Gonzalez at shortstop. B Sardinha in right field.
W Betemit at third base. J Molina catching. J Veras relieved M Mussina. J House
hit for M Mora. J House struck out swinging. G Molina hit for R Hernandez.
G Molina fouled out to first. F Bynum grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 12.

NY YANKEES 8TH: B Fahey at second base. L Hernandez at shortstop. J House
at third base. G Molina catching. B Sardinha struck out swinging. W Betemit
singled to center. H Matsui grounded out to first, W Betemit to second.
J Molina flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 12.

BALTIMORE 9TH: S Duncan in left field. R Villone relieved J Veras.
R Villone relieved J Veras. B Fahey safe at first on error by shortstop
A Gonzalez. T Redman grounded into double play, third to second to first,
B Fahey out at second. P Bako hit for N Markakis. P Bako lined out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) BALTIMORE 0, NY YANKEES 12.</div>

 

Mussina sharp, Mientkiewicz drive in four in Yankees' rout

<h3>NY YANKEES 12, BALTIMORE 0</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Three weeks ago, Mike Mussina couldnot believe that he had forgotten how to pitch. After two straightsolid outings, he has apparently remembered how to win.

Mussina threw seven outstanding innings and the Yankees scoredsix runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and five in theseventh in a 12-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Following a 16-0 loss in Detroit on August 27, Mussina hit rockbottom. That was the third straight awful start for the38-year-old righthander, and he said that he could not believethat in those three starts he had forgotten how to pitch after17 years.


In those starts, he allowed 19 earned runs and was sent to thebullpen for the first time in his career as the Yankees promotedrookie Ian Kennedy.


Mussina relieved Roger Clemens on September 3 against Seattleand then made a start for the seven-time Cy Young Award winneron Wednesday in Toronto, and allowed five hits in 5 2/3scoreless innings of a 4-1 victory.


Six days later against Baltimore, Mussina was even sharper. Inhis 500th career start, he allowed only a pair of singles toRamon Hernandez and an infield hit to Miguel Tejada in theseventh.


In between those hits, Mussina was efficient, throwing 65 of 98pitches as he reached 10 wins for an AL-record 16th consecutiveseason. He struck out six, issued one walk.


The Yankees (87-64) won for the 11th time in their last 13 gamesand are now just 2 1/2 games behind Boston (90-62) in theAmerican League East.


They also opened a 4 1/2 game edge on Detroit (83-69) in thewild race and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoffspot to eight.


New York managed just one hit through three innings but brokethrough in the fourth off Baltimore starter Jon Leicester (2-2).

Hideki Matsui, who hit a go-ahead home run Monday, had a two-rundouble and scored on Robinson Cano's single. Two pitches aftertaking a 3-0 lead, Doug Mientkiewicz hit an 0-1 pitch into theright field seats.


It was his fifth home run of the season, first since returningfrom a fractured wrist. It also was the second straight gamethat Mientkiewicz delivered a clutch hit for the Yankees.

Mientkiewicz, who is 6-for-13 since returning, had a career-highfour RBI as he added a run-scoring single in New York'sfive-run seventh.


Matsui and Cano had RBI singles in the frame and Melky Cabreracapped the scoring with a two-run single.


Leicester, who had won his first two starts with Baltimore,allowed six runs and six hits in four innings.

 

AL: BALTIMORE at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BALTIMORE 0
NY YANKEES 12 FINAL</div>

 

Mussina sharp, Mientkiewicz drive in four in Yankees' rout

<h3>NY YANKEES 12, BALTIMORE 0</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Three weeks ago, Mike Mussina couldnot believe that he had forgotten how to pitch. After two straightsolid outings, he has apparently remembered how to win.

Mussina threw seven outstanding innings and the Yankees scoredsix runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and five in theseventh in a 12-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Following a 16-0 loss in Detroit on August 27, Mussina hit rockbottom. That was the third straight awful start for the38-year-old righthander, and he said that he could not believethat in those three starts he had forgotten how to pitch after17 years.


In those starts, he allowed 19 earned runs and was sent to thebullpen for the first time in his career as the Yankees promotedrookie Ian Kennedy.


Mussina relieved Roger Clemens on September 3 against Seattleand then made a start for the seven-time Cy Young Award winneron Wednesday in Toronto, and allowed five hits in 5 2/3scoreless innings of a 4-1 victory.


Six days later against Baltimore, Mussina was even sharper. Inhis 500th career start, he allowed only a pair of singles toRamon Hernandez and an infield hit to Miguel Tejada in theseventh.


In between those hits, Mussina was efficient, throwing 65 of 98pitches as he reached 10 wins for an AL-record 16th consecutiveseason. He struck out six, issued one walk.


The Yankees (87-64) won for the 11th time in their last 13 gamesand are now just 2 1/2 games behind Boston (90-62) in theAmerican League East.


They also opened a 4 1/2 game edge on Detroit (83-69) in thewild race and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoffspot to eight.


New York managed just one hit through three innings but brokethrough in the fourth off Baltimore starter Jon Leicester (2-2).

Hideki Matsui, who hit a go-ahead home run Monday, had a two-rundouble and scored on Robinson Cano's single. Two pitches aftertaking a 3-0 lead, Doug Mientkiewicz hit an 0-1 pitch into theright field seats.


It was his fifth home run of the season, first since returningfrom a fractured wrist. It also was the second straight gamethat Mientkiewicz delivered a clutch hit for the Yankees.

Mientkiewicz, who is 6-for-13 since returning, had a career-highfour RBI as he added a run-scoring single in New York'sfive-run seventh.


Matsui and Cano had RBI singles in the frame and Melky Cabreracapped the scoring with a two-run single.


Leicester, who had won his first two starts with Baltimore,allowed six runs and six hits in four innings.

 

Mussina sharp, Mientkiewicz drive in four in Yankees' rout

<h3>NY YANKEES 12, BALTIMORE 0</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Three weeks ago, Mike Mussina couldnot believe that he had forgotten how to pitch. After twostraight solid outings, he has apparently remembered how to win.

Mussina threw seven outstanding innings and the Yankees scoredsix runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and five in theseventh in a 12-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Following a 16-0 loss in Detroit on August 27, Mussina hit rockbottom. That was the third straight awful start for the38-year-old righthander, and he said that he could not believethat in those three starts he had forgotten how to pitch after17 years.


In those starts, he allowed 19 earned runs and was sent to thebullpen for the first time in his career as the Yankees promotedrookie Ian Kennedy.


Mussina (10-10) relieved Roger Clemens on September 3 againstSeattle and then made a start for the seven-time Cy Young Awardwinner on Wednesday in Toronto, and allowed five hits in 5 2/3scoreless innings of a 4-1 victory.


Six days later against Baltimore, Mussina was even sharper. Inhis 500th career start, he allowed only a pair of singles toRamon Hernandez and an infield hit to Miguel Tejada in theseventh.


"You have some success and it creates (a) positive atmosphere,"Mussina said. "It makes you believe that things are better thanthey were and I've gotten two starts and I've thrown the ballpretty well for two starts."


"He's got a lot of life," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It'sreally good. He was throwing a lot of strikes. It looked likehe was pretty much able to do what he wants."


In between those hits, Mussina was efficient, throwing 65 of 98pitches as he reached 10 wins for an AL-record 16th consecutiveseason.


He struck out six, issued one walk and became the seventhpitcher to record 10 wins or more in 16 straight seasons, a listthat includes Greg Maddux (20), Cy Young (19), Steve Carlton(18), Don Sutton (17), Warren Spahn (17) and Nolan Ryan (16).

"Today I felt good," Mussina said. "I felt like I could dowhatever I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it. You don'thave very many days like that and fortunately today was one ofthose days."


"That's the guy I that remember facing," Yankees first basemanDoug Mientkiewicz said. "He changed speeds, located. His lasttwo outings have been pheonomenal.


Mussina also turned in consecutive scoreless outings for thefirst time since August 12-17, 2003.


"He's starting to feel good about himself and helping us winballgames," Torre said. "That's what we're all trying to do.We're all trying to chip in and do the same thing."

"He was as good as I've seen in the last few years," Oriolesfirst baseman Kevin Millar said. "His velocity was back up. Hiscurveball was sharp. He was getting calls of the plate forstrikes. He was able to locate where he wanted to put thebaseball tonight."


The Yankees (87-64) won for the 11th time in their last 13 gamesand are now just 2 1/2 games behind Boston (90-62) in theAmerican League East.


They also opened a 4 1/2 game edge on Detroit (83-69) in thewild race and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoffspot to seven.


"Less than two weeks to go, we're in a pretty good spot,"Mussina said. "So we just have to stay after it."

New York managed just one hit through three innings but brokethrough in the fourth off Baltimore starter Jon Leicester (2-2).

Hideki Matsui, who hit a go-ahead home run Monday, had a two-rundouble and scored on Robinson Cano's single. Two pitches aftertaking a 3-0 lead, Mientkiewicz hit an 0-1 pitch into theright field seats.


"A big inning again," Millar said. "The big inning has beenhurting us for about six weeks now.


It was his fifth home run of the season and first sincereturning from a fractured wrist. It also was the secondstraight game that Mientkiewicz delivered a clutch hit for theYankees.


Mientkiewicz, who is 6-for-13 since returning, had a season-highfour RBI as he added a run-scoring single in New York'sfive-run seventh.


Matsui and Cano had RBI singles in the frame and Melky Cabreracapped the scoring with a two-run single.


Leicester, who had won his first two starts with Baltimore,allowed six runs and six hits in four innings.


The Orioles lost for the 21st time in their last 27 contests andtheir three shutout losses have been in the last 17 games.

"It gets frustrating," Millar said. "But you keep coming outand competing. When you give up runs and you get down early andyou have big innings, it makes you look like you're sloppy orpacking it in. That's not the case. It's just part of thegame."