Jeter, Yanks continue to sizzle past Rangers

Major League Baseball News

May 10, 2007, 2:40 GMT

Bronx, NY - Derek Jeter drove in three runs and Mike Mussina allowed three hits over six innings, as the Yankees continued their domination of the Rangers with a 6-2 victory in the middle contest of a three-game series.The Yankees (16-16), who scored four times in the opening inning, won for the seventh time in nine games and moved back to the .500 mark for the first time since April 21, when they were 8-8.Johnny Damon had two hits and scored twice, as the Yankees beat the Rangers for the eighth consecutive time and moved to 18-2 against them since July 20, 2005.Mussina (2-1) gave up two runs to record his 241st career win, moving past Herb Pennock for 50th place on the all-time list.'Guys are playing great defense behind me,' Mussina said. 'We're getting big hits when we need them, putting pressure on the other team. We're playing much better this month than last month. Once you get winning ball games it gets contagious.'Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu and Robinson Cano also knocked in a run for New York, which will go for the three-game sweep Thursday afternoon with Chien- Ming Wang on the mound, while Texas goes with Brandon McCarthy.'We need our starters to pitch well. They've been that way for a while now,' Jeter said. 'The biggest keys are that you want them to stay healthy. It's a plus for us on the team.'Brad Wilkerson belted a solo homer for the Rangers, who lost for the seventh time in 10 games.Robinson Tejeda (3-3) was charged with six hits and six runs over 3 2/3 innings.'I feel a little discouraged,' said Tejeda, who admitted that he's had elbow and shoulder problems. 'It was bothering me every time I released the ball.'Eight batters came to the plate for the Yankees in the first inning. Damon led off with an infield hit and then came home on Abreu's double to left-center field. Abreu advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jeter's single up the middle.Tejeda continued to have problems, as Jeter stole second and Alex Rodriguez walked. Matsui laced a double into the right field corner for a 3-0 lead, and Rodriguez scored on Cano's groundout to second base.Wilkerson led off the third with his fourth homer of the season, a shot to right-center. Nelson Cruz doubled and Chris Stewart walked, and both runners advanced on a bunt from Kenny Lofton. Cruz scored on Michael Young's ground ball, but Stewart was left at third when Mark Teixeira lined out.The Yankees struck for two more runs in the fourth, expanding their lead to 6-2. Doug Mientkiewicz hit a ground-rule double and moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Wil Nieves. Damon walked, and with two outs stole second. Jeter laced a two-run single to left field.Nieves then broke an incredible slump, recording his first hit since September 29, 2002 with a single in the bottom of the sixth. Nieves, starting at catcher in place of Jorge Posada, was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit to a double. Nieves had been hitless in his previous 34 major league at-bats.The Yankees escaped a jam in the seventh as Scott Proctor fanned Cruz to end the threat, leaving runners at first and second.Game NotesRangers minor league pitcher Francisco Cruceta was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program...The Yankees are 5-0 against Texas this year. The Yankees, who have already clinched the season series with the Rangers for the fourth consecutive year and the eighth time in the past decade, have not lost to Texas since dropping a 6-2 decision in the Bronx last May 18...Rangers shortstop Michael Young left in the fifth with tightness in his right hamstring...Jeter scored the 1,300th run of his career. Abreu batted second in the lineup for the first time since August 19, 2000 (with Philadelphia) at St. Louis...Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi will be examined Thursday for bone spurs on his left foot.© 2007 The Sports Network