GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (82-62) at TORONTO (72-72)

AL: NY YANKEES (82-62) at TORONTO (72-72)

<h3>Mussina returns to rotation as Yanks continue playoff push</h3>

<div class="pre">NY Yankees (82-62) at Toronto (72-72) 7:07 pm EDT</div>

TORONTO (Ticker) - The New York Yankees are likely headed to theplayoffs. The question is, is Mike Mussina?


Mussina makes his first start since being demoted to the bullpenon Wednesday, and will try to extend the Yankees' winningstreak to seven games against the Toronto Blue Jays in themiddle game of a three-game series.


New York, which is a season-high 20 games over .500 followingsix straight wins, leads the Detroit Tigers (79-67) by fourgames in the wild card race. It also trails the Boston Red Sox(88-58) by five games in the American League East.

Mussina (8-10, 5.51 ERA) was sent to the bullpen for the firsttime in his career following a poor stretch in which he went 2-3with a 8.87 ERA in five starts in August.


The veteran righthander made the first relief appearance of his17-year career on September 3 in place of an injured RogerClemens. Mussina allowed two runs and seven hits in 3 2/3innings of a 7-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.


Mussina last started on August 27 and was rocked for six runsand nine hits in three innings of a 16-0 loss to the DetroitTigers.


Now he gets to show he should be part of the Yankees' playoffrotation. Mussina will be making his first start against theBlue Jays this season, going 21-11 with a 3.38 ERA in 39 careeroutings.


Dustin McGowan (10-8, 3.90) gets the ball for Toronto, which haslost four straight contests.


McGowan is looking for his third straight win, striking out 12in eight innings of a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays onFriday. The righthander, who is 2-0 against the Yankees thisseason, has allowed three runs and 10 hits over his last 16innings.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES AT TORONTO -- LINEUPS

NY YANKEES TORONTO
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon DH .262 10 56 Vernon Wells CF .249 16 79
Derek Jeter SS .316 9 62 Russ Adams 3B .294 0 1
Bobby Abreu RF .288 16 94 Alex Rios RF .304 23 77
Alex Rodriguez 3B .319 52 140 Frank Thomas DH .267 21 82
Hideki Matsui LF .289 23 92 Matt Stairs LF .309 19 59
Jorge Posada C .338 20 85 Aaron Hill 2B .273 15 71
Jason Giambi 1B .244 13 34 Lyle Overbay 1B .242 10 43
Robinson Cano 2B .301 16 80 Gregg Zaun C .241 9 44
Melky Cabrera CF .291 8 62 John Mcdonald SS .250 1 28

Mike Mussina RHP (8-10, 5.51) Dustin Mcgowan RHP (10-8, 3.90)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
WARMUPS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (8-10, 5.51)
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (10-8, 3.90)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM JOYCE
1B - JEFF NELSON
2B - JIM WOLF
3B - TIM TSCHIDA

WEATHER: 68 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 9 mph, in from left</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
STARTING BATS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA AND JORGE POSADA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN AND GREGG ZAUN

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.262, 10 HR, 56 RBI)
D JETER (.316, 9 HR, 62 RBI)
B ABREU (.288, 16 HR, 94 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H MATSUI ON SECOND, A RODRIGUEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1
TORONTO 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.338, 20 HR, 85 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY DUSTIN MCGOWAN ALLOWED ALEX RODRIGUEZ TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, H MATSUI ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 2
TORONTO 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.338, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.249, 16 HR, 79 RBI)
R ADAMS (.294, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
A RIOS (.304, 23 HR, 77 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 4 2 1 1 2 1 1

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Adams 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
M Stairs lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 2 -- 2
TORONTO - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.51

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 4.00

WP - D McGowan. Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 28-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D
McGowan 1-1. Batters faced: D McGowan 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.244, 13 HR, 34 RBI)
R CANO (.301, 16 HR, 80 RBI)
M CABRERA (.291, 8 HR, 62 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 4 2 1 1 2 1 1

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Rios rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
M Stairs lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 2 -- 2
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.47

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 4.00

WP - D McGowan. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 14-10; D McGowan 28-15. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 3-0; D McGowan 1-1. Batters faced: M Mussina 4; D
McGowan 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.309, 19 HR, 59 RBI)
A HILL (.273, 15 HR, 71 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.242, 10 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 7 2 1 1 2 3 1

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Rios rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
M Stairs lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 20 -- 2
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.47

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 2 1 2 2 2 3 0 3.97

WP - D McGowan. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 14-10; D McGowan 38-23. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 3-0; D McGowan 2-1. Batters faced: M Mussina 4; D
McGowan 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.261, 0-FOR-1)
D JETER (.316, 0-FOR-1)
B ABREU (.288, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 7 2 1 1 2 3 1

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Rios rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
M Stairs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .240
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .249

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 20 -- 2
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.43

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 2 1 2 2 2 3 0 3.97

WP - D McGowan. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 33-22; D McGowan 38-23. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 5-0; D McGowan 2-1. Batters faced: M Mussina 9; D
McGowan 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.249, 0-FOR-1)
R ADAMS (.278, 0-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.305, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 10 2 1 1 2 4 2

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1, A Rodriguez 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Adams 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Rios rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
M Stairs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .240
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .249

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 200 -- 2
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.43

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 3 1 2 2 2 4 0 3.94

WP - D McGowan. HBP - D Jeter (by D McGowan). Pitches-strikes: M Mussina
33-22; D McGowan 59-33. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mussina 5-0; D McGowan 4-1.
Batters faced: M Mussina 9; D McGowan 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.291, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
J POSADA (.338, 0-FOR-1)
J GIAMBI (.243, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS TORONTO (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B Abreu rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .319
H Matsui lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .291
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .338
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 10 2 1 1 2 4 2

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (26, D McGowan). RBI - H Matsui (93). 2-out RBI - H
Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 1, A Rodriguez 1.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Abreu (24, 2nd base off D McGowan/G Zaun).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R Adams 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
A Rios rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
M Stairs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .242
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .240
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .249

Totals 11 0 2 0 1 1 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 200 -- 2
TORONTO - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 3 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.39

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 3 1 2 2 2 4 0 3.94

WP - D McGowan. HBP - D Jeter (by D McGowan). Pitches-strikes: M Mussina
50-32; D McGowan 59-33. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mussina 8-0; D McGowan 4-1.
Batters faced: M Mussina 12; D McGowan 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Tim Tschida.

Weather: 64 degrees, overcast. Wind: 9 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ROBINSON CANO SCORED HIDEKI MATSUI AND JORGE
POSADA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R CANO ON FIRST, J GIAMBI ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 4
TORONTO 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>