GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (40-38) at NY YANKEES (36-39)

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Farnsworth relieved M Mussina.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 2 TOP, 8TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J Kendall (.217, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: MARIANO RIVERA (2-3, 4.08) IN THE 8TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, M KOTSAY ON FIRST, S STEWART ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.288, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, M KOTSAY ON FIRST, S STEWART ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 2 TOP, 8TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J Cust (.288, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN
NYY - MARIANO RIVERA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.332, 2-FOR-2, BB, RBI)
J POSADA (.340, 1-FOR-2, BB, RBI)
B ABREU (.249, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS NY YANKEES (2) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
M Kotsay cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .242
N Swisher rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 6 .271
J Cust dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .286
E Chavez 3b 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .244
M Ellis 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .271
D Johnson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
B Crosby ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Kendall c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .217

Totals 30 1 8 0 1 5 17

BATTING: 2B - E Chavez (18, M Mussina). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Cust 2, N Swisher 1. GIDP - M Ellis, D Johnson. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-B Crosby-D Johnson).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .257
D Jeter ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .340
H Matsui lf 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .274
A Rodriguez 3b 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 .332
J Posada dh 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 .340
B Abreu rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .249
A Phillips 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .143
M Cairo 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R Cano 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .273
W Nieves c 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .125

Totals 27 2 7 2 3 6 13

BATTING: 2B - A Rodriguez 2 (20, J Kennedy 2). RBI - A Rodriguez (79), J Posada
(45). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - D Jeter 1, J Posada 1. GIDP - B Abreu. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - H Matsui (S Stewart at 2nd base). DP: 2 (R
Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips, M Mussina-R Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 000 000 10 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 200 000 0 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 6 7 2 2 3 5 0 3.91
D Braden 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.55

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 7 6 1 1 1 3 0 4.62
K Farnsworth 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.88
M Rivera 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.03

IBB - J Posada (by J Kennedy). Pitches-strikes: J Kennedy 110-59; D Braden
14-8; M Mussina 84-54; K Farnsworth 10-9; M Rivera 7-4. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Kennedy 7-6; D Braden 0-2; M Mussina 9-9; K Farnsworth 1-0; M Rivera 0-0.
Batters faced: J Kennedy 27; D Braden 3; M Mussina 26; K Farnsworth 4; M Rivera
1.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Young. 1B--Angel Hernandez. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark
Carlson.

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN
NYY - MARIANO RIVERA

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.244, 1-FOR-3)
M ELLIS (.271, 1-FOR-3)
D JOHNSON (.265, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS NY YANKEES (2) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
M Kotsay cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .242
N Swisher rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 6 .271
J Cust dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .286
E Chavez 3b 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 .244
M Ellis 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .271
D Johnson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
B Crosby ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Kendall c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .217

Totals 30 1 8 0 1 5 17

BATTING: 2B - E Chavez (18, M Mussina). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Cust 2, N Swisher 1. GIDP - M Ellis, D Johnson. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-B Crosby-D Johnson).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .257
D Jeter ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .340
H Matsui lf 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .274
A Rodriguez 3b 3 1 3 1 1 0 0 .334
J Posada dh 3 0 1 1 1 1 3 .339
B Abreu rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .252
A Phillips 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .143
M Cairo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .244
R Cano 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .272
W Nieves c 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .125

Totals 32 2 9 2 3 6 18

BATTING: 2B - A Rodriguez 2 (20, J Kennedy 2). RBI - A Rodriguez (79), J Posada
(45). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - D Jeter 1, J Posada 1, R Cano 1. GIDP - B Abreu. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - H Matsui (S Stewart at 2nd base). DP: 2 (R
Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips, M Mussina-R Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 000 000 10 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 200 000 00 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 6 7 2 2 3 5 0 3.91
D Braden 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 6.26

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 7 6 1 1 1 3 0 4.62
K Farnsworth 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.88
M Rivera 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.03

IBB - J Posada (by J Kennedy). Pitches-strikes: J Kennedy 110-59; D Braden
30-19; M Mussina 84-54; K Farnsworth 10-9; M Rivera 7-4. Ground balls-fly
balls: J Kennedy 7-6; D Braden 1-4; M Mussina 9-9; K Farnsworth 1-0; M Rivera
0-0. Batters faced: J Kennedy 27; D Braden 8; M Mussina 26; K Farnsworth 4; M
Rivera 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Young. 1B--Angel Hernandez. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark
Carlson.

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Murphy ran for D Johnson.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, D MURPHY ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 2 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B Crosby (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

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

BATTERIES: OAK - JOE KENNEDY, DALLAS BRADEN (7TH) AND JASON KENDALL

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH), MARIANO
RIVERA (8TH) AND WIL NIEVES

HOME RUNS: OAK - NONE

NYY - NONE</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

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

BATTERIES: OAK - JOE KENNEDY, DALLAS BRADEN (7TH) AND JASON KENDALL

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH), MARIANO
RIVERA (8TH) AND WIL NIEVES


WP - MIKE MUSSINA (4-5)
LP - JOE KENNEDY (2-6)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (10)

HOME RUNS: OAK - NONE

NYY - NONE


TIME: 2:38 ATT: 52,622

PROBABLES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (6-3, 3.14)
NYY - KEI IGAWA (2-1, 7.13)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS NY YANKEES (2) - FINAL

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
M Kotsay cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .242
N Swisher rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 6 .271
J Cust dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .286
E Chavez 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .243
M Ellis 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .270
D Johnson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
D Murphy pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Crosby ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .231
J Kendall c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .217

Totals 33 1 8 0 1 7 18

BATTING: 2B - E Chavez (18, M Mussina). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Cust 2, N Swisher 1. GIDP - M Ellis, D Johnson. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-B Crosby-D Johnson).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .257
D Jeter ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .340
H Matsui lf 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .274
A Rodriguez 3b 3 1 3 1 1 0 0 .334
J Posada dh 3 0 1 1 1 1 3 .339
B Abreu rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .252
A Phillips 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .143
M Cairo 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .244
R Cano 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .272
W Nieves c 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .125

Totals 32 2 9 2 3 6 18

BATTING: 2B - A Rodriguez 2 (20, J Kennedy 2). RBI - A Rodriguez (79), J Posada
(45). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - D Jeter 1, J Posada 1, R Cano 1. GIDP - B Abreu. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - H Matsui (S Stewart at 2nd base). DP: 2 (R
Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips, M Mussina-R Cano-D Jeter-A Phillips).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 000 000 100 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 200 000 00x -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy (L, 2-6) 6 7 2 2 3 5 0 3.91
D Braden 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 6.26

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina (W, 4-5) 7 6 1 1 1 3 0 4.62
K Farnsworth (H, 9) 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.88
M Rivera (S, 10) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.90

IBB - J Posada (by J Kennedy). HBP - D Johnson (by M Rivera).
Pitches-strikes: J Kennedy 110-59; D Braden 30-19; M Mussina 84-54; K
Farnsworth 10-9; M Rivera 18-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Kennedy 7-6; D
Braden 1-4; M Mussina 9-9; K Farnsworth 1-0; M Rivera 0-1. Batters faced: J
Kennedy 27; D Braden 8; M Mussina 26; K Farnsworth 4; M Rivera 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Young. 1B--Angel Hernandez. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark
Carlson.

T--2:38. Att--52,622.
Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 2 FINAL</div>

 

Mussina sharp as Yankees hold off A's

<h3>NY YANKEES 2, OAKLAND 1</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees continued tostruggle at the plate and left little margin of error on themound. But on Friday, it was enough for an important win.

Mike Mussina tossed seven solid innings as the Yankees scoredboth of their runs in the first inning en route to a 2-1 victoryover the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a 10-gamehomestand.

The righthander was stellar throughout, allowing just one runand six hits, while striking out three and walking one.

The Yankees (37-39) won for just the second time in their lastnine games but their bats also remained cold. Before Thursday'sgame in Baltimore was suspended in the eighth inning and withthe Yankees holding an 8-6 lead, their lineup had averaged 2.6runs during that poor span.

Friday also was the rare instance in which they won when scoringthree runs or less. New York had dropped its previous 18 gameswhen failing to score more than three but also won for just thesecond time in 22 games when doing so.

Mussina (4-5) pitched twice on the the Yankees' 1-7 road tripand his offense scored just three times for him in losses atColorado and San Francisco.

New York nearly matched that total in the first as AlexRodriguez lined an RBI double with two outs and scored on JorgePosada's base hit to left to take a 2-0 lead in the openingframe.

The Yankees also may have been facing the right opponent.Oakland has lost eight of its last nine games and has scored 13runs in its last seven losses.

The night did not begin well for Mussina as he walked ShannonStewart. But he retired the next seven hitters and 17 of thenext 21 before running into some trouble in the seventh.

Eric Chavez opened the inning with a double off first basemanAndy Phillips' glove and went to third on Mark Ellis' single.Chavez scored when Dan Johnson hit into a double-play but afterthe ball went off Mussina's left leg, the righthander retiredBobby Crosby on a long fly out to center field.

Kyle Farnsworth struggled through the eighth, allowing one-outhits to Stewart and Mark Kotsay. Closer Mariano Rivera beganwarming up and came into the game after Nick Swisher struck out.

Rivera worked the count full on Jack Cust but escaped the jam byfanning Oakland's designated-hitter and still held the one-runlead in the ninth as he notched his 10th save.

While Mussina was effective, so was Oakland starter Joe Kennedy,(2-6) who is winless in his last four starts. The lefthanderallowed two runs and just six hits in six innings.

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (1) AT NY YANKEES (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 1ST: M Cabrera reached on bunt single to pitcher. D Jeter bunt
popped out foul to catcher. H Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to
pitcher, M Cabrera out at second. A Rodriguez doubled to deep center, H Matsui
scored. J Posada singled to left, A Rodriguez scored. B Abreu flied out to
left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 7TH: E Chavez doubled to right. M Ellis singled to right, E Chavez
to third. D Johnson grounded into double play, pitcher to second to shortstop
to first, E Chavez scored, M Ellis out at second. B Crosby flied out to center.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (1) AT NY YANKEES (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, M Kotsay CF, N Swisher RF, J Cust DH,
E Chavez 3B, M Ellis 2B, D Johnson 1B, B Crosby SS, J Kendall C, J Kennedy LHP.

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

Umpires -- Larry Young (HP), Angel Hernandez (1B), Ted Barrett (2B),
Mark Carlson (3B).

Gametime Weather: 72 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 5 mph.


OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart walked. M Kotsay struck out swinging. S Stewart
stole second. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust flied out to left.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: M Cabrera reached on bunt single to pitcher. D Jeter bunt
popped out foul to catcher. H Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to
pitcher, M Cabrera out at second. A Rodriguez doubled to deep center, H Matsui
scored. J Posada singled to left, A Rodriguez scored. B Abreu flied out to
left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 2ND: E Chavez grounded out to first. M Ellis flied out to right.
D Johnson lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0,
NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Phillips popped out to first. R Cano singled to center.
W Nieves singled to left, R Cano to second. M Cabrera flied out to center,
R Cano to third. D Jeter lined out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 3RD: B Crosby grounded out to shortstop. J Kendall singled to
center. S Stewart singled to right, J Kendall to second. M Kotsay flied out
to right. N Swisher flied out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0,
NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 3RD: H Matsui struck out looking. A Rodriguez doubled to deep
left. J Posada intentionally walked. B Abreu grounded into double play,
second to shortstop to first, J Posada out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 4TH: J Cust singled to right. E Chavez popped out to second.
M Ellis grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Cust out at
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 4TH: A Phillips struck out swinging. R Cano grounded out to
pitcher. W Nieves grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0,
NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 5TH: D Johnson grounded out to first. B Crosby lined out to right.
J Kendall struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: M Cabrera walked. D Jeter struck out looking. H Matsui
lined out to left. A Rodriguez walked, M Cabrera to second. J Posada struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 6TH: S Stewart singled to center. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's
choice to left, S Stewart out at second. N Swisher flied out to center.
J Cust grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 6TH: B Abreu grounded out to third. A Phillips struck out
looking. R Cano singled to left. W Nieves grounded into fielder's choice to
third, R Cano out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 7TH: E Chavez doubled to right. M Ellis singled to right, E Chavez
to third. D Johnson grounded into double play, pitcher to second to shortstop
to first, E Chavez scored, M Ellis out at second. B Crosby flied out to center.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 7TH: D Braden relieved J Kennedy. M Cabrera popped out to
second. D Jeter struck out looking. H Matsui flied out to right. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 8TH: M Cairo at first base. K Farnsworth relieved M Mussina.
J Kendall grounded out to pitcher. S Stewart singled to center. M Kotsay
singled to right, S Stewart to second. N Swisher struck out swinging.
M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth. J Cust struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 8TH: A Rodriguez singled to deep left. J Posada lined out to
center. B Abreu reached on infield single to second, A Rodriguez to second.
M Cairo flied out to center. R Cano grounded into fielder's choice to second,
B Abreu out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.

OAKLAND 9TH: E Chavez popped out to first. M Ellis struck out looking.
D Johnson hit by pitch. D Murphy ran for D Johnson. B Crosby struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 2.</div>

 

Mussina sharp as Yankees hold off A's

<h3>NY YANKEES 2, OAKLAND 1</h3>BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees continued tostruggle at the plate and left little margin of error on themound. But on Friday, it was enough for an important win.

Mike Mussina tossed seven solid innings as the Yankees scoredboth of their runs in the first inning en route to a 2-1 victoryover the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a 10-gamehomestand.

The righthander was stellar throughout, allowing just one runand six hits, while striking out three and walking one. Mussinathrew 84 pitches and allowed three runs or less for the fifthconsecutive start.

"I feel pretty good about it," Mussina said. "We found a way towin a ballgame. We did it the old-fashioned way, we playedsome good defense, did some decent pitching. It's been a toughlast 10 days or so and it's nice to get in here (and win)."

"Even though he may not be throwing them a 90 mile-per-hourfastball when he has as many weapons as he has, he can do somethings when he's ahead in the count," New York manager Joe Torresaid of Mussina. "I thought he did that better tonight thanhe's done all year."

The Yankees (37-39) won for just the second time in their lastnine games but their bats also remained cold. Before Thursday'sgame in Baltimore was suspended in the eighth inning and withthe Yankees holding an 8-6 lead, their lineup had averaged 2.6runs during that poor span.

Friday also was the rare instance in which they won when scoringthree runs or less. New York had dropped its previous 18 gameswhen failing to score more than three but also won for just thesecond time in 22 games when doing so.

"Today was a big day," Mussina said. "We only got two runs butwe found a way to win a game with two runs, so you have to dothat once in a while and, if you're going to be a good team inthe end, you need to win games like this."

With the win, the Yankees improved to just 5-13 in one-rungames.

"I know we've struggled out of the bullpen, but one run has tobe enough," Torre said. "Winning clubs make that stand up, andI know our numbers are awful in one-run games."

Mussina (4-5) pitched twice on the the Yankees' 1-7 road tripand his offense scored just three times for him in losses atColorado and San Francisco.

New York nearly matched that total in the first as AlexRodriguez lined an RBI double with two outs and scored on JorgePosada's base hit to left to take a 2-0 lead in the openingframe.

The Yankees also may have been facing the right opponent.Oakland has lost eight of its last nine games and has scored 13runs in its last seven losses.

"We played good enough, hit the ball good enough and pitchedpretty well," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "But we didn'twin."

The night did not begin well for Mussina as he walked ShannonStewart. But he retired the next seven hitters and 17 of thenext 21 before running into some trouble in the seventh.

Eric Chavez opened the inning with a double off first basemanAndy Phillips' glove and went to third on Mark Ellis' single.Chavez scored when Dan Johnson hit into a double-play but afterthe ball went off Mussina's left leg, the righthander retiredBobby Crosby on a long fly out to center field.

Kyle Farnsworth struggled through the eighth, allowing one-outhits to Stewart and Mark Kotsay. Closer Mariano Rivera beganwarming up and came into the game after Nick Swisher struck out.

Before Rivera finished his warmups, Farnsworth was caught bytelevision cameras throwing his glove against the dugout walland slamming his hat down.

Rivera worked the count full on Jack Cust but escaped the jam byfanning Oakland's designated-hitter and still held the one-runlead in the ninth as he notched his 10th save.

Oakland put the tying run on as Dan Johnson was hit by a pitch,but pinch runner Donnie Murphy was stranded when Crosby struckout.

"It was awesome," Rodriguez said of Rivera's performance. "Hejust reminded you why he's the greatest closer of all-time."

While Mussina was effective, so was Oakland starter Joe Kennedy,(2-6) who is winless in his last four starts. The lefthanderallowed two runs and just six hits in six innings.

"I left a pitch middle in to A-Rod and he hit it off the wall,"Kennedy said. "And Posada hit a changeup. I had guys on basethe whole game and was able to make good pitches and get bigouts."