GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (26-31) at CHI WHITE SOX (26-29)

Abreu helps Yankees past White Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 10, CHI WHITE SOX 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Bobby Abreu and the New York Yankees arebeginning to round into shape.

Abreu broke open a magnificent pitching duel between MikeMussina and Jose Contreras with a key two-run double and scoredthree times as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 10-3, onThursday.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 15th career grand slam and Robinson Canodrove in two runs for New York, which has won three games in arow for just the third time in 2007. It was also the first timethe Yankees have won two consecutive series this season. NewYork, which took 3-of-4 from Chicago, also won 2-of-3 vs. theBoston Red Sox over the weekend.

Abreu, who had two hits against the White Sox, also has beenhitting well lately after batting just .228 to begin the monthof June. The right fielder is batting .480 (12-for-25) withnine runs scored in his last seven games. Abreu has raised hisaverage to .257.

The win also allowed Joe Torre to become the 10th manager inmajor league history to reach 2,000 career victories.

The White Sox have lost three straight and five of six to fall aseason-high four games under .500.

With the score tied at 1-1, in the eighth, Derek Jeter receiveda pinch-hit walk from Contreras (4-6). One out later Jeter tooksecond on a wild pitch and moved to third on an infield singleby Melky Cabrera.

After Matt Thornton relieved Contreras, Abreu followed with adouble off the right-center field wall, plating both runners tomake it 3-1. Cano added an RBI groundout later in the frame toincrease New York's lead by three.

With the Yankees leading, 4-3, in the ninth, Rodriguez belted agrand slam off Ryan Bukvich to put the game out of reach. Canoadded an RBI triple and later scored on an error to make it10-3.

Scott Proctor (1-3), the second of four Yankees relievers,pitched one inning to earn his first win of the season. CloserMariano Rivera pitched 1 2/3 innings to record his seventh savein nine opportunities.

Contreras allowed three runs, four hits and a walk in 7 1/3innings. The righthander, who struck out four, has lost twoconsecutive decisions for the first time in 2007.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a RBI groundout byHideki Matsui before the White Sox tied it off Mussina in theseventh.

After Jim Thome and Paul Konerko led off the frame withback-to-back singles to put runners on first an third, A.J.Pierzynski singled to right field off reliever Mike Myers,plating Thome to even the score. Pierzynski was later ejectedfrom the game in the eighth inning for arguing balls andstrikes.

Mussina allowed a run and four hits in six-plus innings whilestriking out four. It was the third straight no-decision forthe righthander, who hasn't won a game since May 9. The 38-yearalso kept up his streak of not being able to get out of theseventh inning this season.

 

Abreu helps Yankees past White Sox

<h3>NY YANKEES 10, CHI WHITE SOX 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Bobby Abreu and the New York Yankees arebeginning to round into shape.

Abreu broke open a magnificent pitching duel between MikeMussina and Jose Contreras with a key two-run double and scoredthree times as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 10-3, onThursday.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 15th career grand slam and Robinson Canodrove in two runs for New York, which has won three games in arow for just the third time in 2007. It is also the first timethe Yankees had won two consecutive series this season. NewYork, which took three of four from Chicago, also won two ofthree vs. the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.

"This was a big game," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "To losethe first game of the series and win the next three is huge,especially against a good team."

"We're continuing to play well, after a good series like Bostonand this one," Rodriguez said. "I think we're playing betterdefense and pitching better. It always comes down to pitchingand defense."

Abreu, who had two hits against the White Sox, also has beenhitting well lately after batting just .228 to begin the monthof June. The right fielder is batting .480 (12-for-25) withnine runs scored in his last seven games. Abreu has raised hisaverage to .257.

"I feel good right now," Abreu said. "I want to keep it going.I was hard on myself. I felt like I wasn't doing anything tohelp the team win (until now)."

"Bobby Abreu had a huge hit," Torre said. "He wasn't himselfbefore, but now he is. He's seeing the ball better."

The win also allowed Torre to become the 10th manager in majorleague history to reach 2,000 career victories.

The White Sox have lost three straight and five of six to fall aseason-high four games under .500.

"It's not easy seeing this day-in and day-out," White Soxmanager Ozzie Guillen said. "We gotta get better in thebullpen. Without them, we're not going to win." With the scoretied at 1-1 in the eighth, Derek Jeter received a pinch-hit walkfrom Contreras (4-6). One out later Jeter took second on awild pitch and moved to third on an infield single by MelkyCabrera.

"(Jeter) makes it look easy," Johnny Damon said. "We need himin every situation. That's the type of player he is, anMVP-type player."

After Matt Thornton relieved Contreras, Abreu followed with adouble off the right-center field wall, plating both runners tomake it 3-1. Cano added an RBI groundout later in the frame toincrease New York 's lead by three.

With the Yankees leading, 4-3, in the ninth, Rodriguez belted agrand slam off Ryan Bukvich to put the game out of reach. Canoadded an RBI triple and later scored on an error to make it10-3.

"I'm looking for a good pitch to hit, and I'm not trying to dotoo much (in that situation)," Rodriguez said. "Another run wasbig, especially on the road." Scott Proctor (1-3), the secondof four Yankees relievers, pitched one inning to earn his firstwin of the season. Closer Mariano Rivera pitched 1 2/3 inningsto record his seventh save in nine opportunities.

Contreras allowed three runs, four hits and a walk in 7 1/3innings. The righthander, who struck out four, has lost twoconsecutive decisions for the first time in 2007.

"I felt good enough to go nine innings," Contreras said throughan interpreter. "I'm only happy when I win, and I should'vegone nine." The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a RBIgroundout by Hideki Matsui before the White Sox tied it offMussina in the seventh.

After Jim Thome and Paul Konerko led off the frame withback-to-back singles to put runners on first an third, A.J.Pierzynski singled to right field off reliever Mike Myers,plating Thome to even the score.

Pierzynski was later ejected from the game in the eighth inningafter he struck out and slammed his bat on home plate.

"(Home plate umpire) Bob Davidson was right for throwing me out,I deserved it," Pierzynski said. "It's just frustration fromthe last couple of days, with the way things have been going."Mussina allowed a run and four hits in six-plus innings whilestriking out four. It was the third straight no-decision forthe righthander, who hasn't won a game since May 9. The 38-yearalso kept up his streak of not being able to get out of theseventh inning this season.

"It's been good and bad, back and forth," Mussina said. "Iwanted to keep pitching, but that's the way it is sometimes. Ionly had 79 pitches. I've got to earn it back, I guess."