Mussina throws seven innings as Yankees edge A's

Jun 30, 2007, 2:15 GMT

Bronx, NY - Alex Rodriguez had three hits, including an RBI double, and Mike Mussina pitched seven strong innings, as the New York Yankees edged the Oakland Athletics, 2-1, in the start of a three-game series.

Mussina (4-5) allowed just one run and six hits, walked one and fanned three to end a personal two-game skid. The right-hander was facing the A's for the 34th time in his career and is now 17-10 against them.

It was also hit 200th start as a Yankee after making 288 starts with the Baltimore Orioles. The feat makes him one of just 10 pitchers in major league history to record at least 200 starts with two different teams.

'Its nice to win games once in a while,' said Mussina. 'I feel good about the way I threw the ball. I've been improving steadily here the last month or so. I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. If I can get out there in the sixth or seventh inning with just a couple runs, for the most part I'll have a successful year.'

Jorge Posada knocked in the other run with a single, as the Yankees won for just the second time in nine games.

Yankees manager Joe Torre also earned win number 2,010 to move one ahead of Leo Durocher for ninth on the career list.

Shannon Stewart had three hits, while Eric Chavez doubled and scored for Oakland, which has dropped seven of its last eight games.

Joe Kennedy (2-6) was tagged for two runs on seven hits, with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings in the start.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the first, as Hideki Matsui reached on a fielder's choice grounder and scored on Rodriguez's double to the warning track in left-center. Posada followed with a single to left, plating Rodriguez.

Oakland threatened in the second, but Jason Kendall and Stewart were left stranded after back-to-back, one-out singles.

The A's finally broke through in the seventh, as Chavez doubled, moved to third on Mark Ellis' single and scored on Dan Johnson's double-play groundout.

Kyle Farnsworth came on in the eighth for New York, and after retiring Kendall on a ground ball, allowed consecutive singles to Stewart and Mark Kotsay. Farnsworth then fanned Nick Swisher for the second out, but Torre called for Mariano Rivera, and Farnsworth stormed into the dugout and threw his glove against the wall.

Rivera struck out Jack Cust to escape the jam, then worked the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances. It was also the 423rd save of his career, leaving him one behind John Franco for third on the all-time list.

'Tonight we scored early and it brought confidence to the game,' said Rodriguez afterward. 'But these close games are very important. I think all our pitchers, we've gotta give them a margin for error and that hasn't been there lately. So we need to make it a point to not only get runs early, but add on top of them.'

Game Notes

The A's sent outfielder Milton Bradley and cash considerations to San Diego in exchange for pitcher Andrew Brown. The team also placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list (thumb) and optioned pitcher Ruddy Lugo to Triple-A Sacramento...The A's have also recalled infielder Donnie Murphy and selected outfielder Dee Brown from Sacramento and transferred outfielder Chris Snelling to the 60-day disabled list...It was Oakland's 26th one-run game of the season, the second-highest total in the American League. Only Toronto has more with 28...In seven starts on four days of rest this season Kennedy is 0-4 with a 4.45 ERA...Rodriguez has 31 RBI in his last 21 games...New York has won nine of its last 10 games at Yankee Stadium.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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