Eight is enough: Yanks tie HR record, A-Rod hitless

Aug 1, 2007, 2:30 GMT

Bronx, NY - Hideki Matsui hit two of eight New York home runs, but one was not from Alex Rodriguez, as the Yankees clobbered the Chicago White Sox, 16-3, to start a three-game series.

Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, and Shelley Duncan also went deep as the Yankees equaled a club record for homers in a game. They also had eight June 28, 1939 versus Philadelphia in the opener of a doubleheader.

Rodriguez remained at 499 career homers, going hitless in five at-bats. He flied out to right in the first, then to deep center in third, and was robbed of an extra-base hit by Jermaine Dye, who crashed into the wall in right in the fourth. Rodriguez, who also flied out in the sixth and lined out to center in the seventh, is mired in an 0-for-16 slump since his last hit, a homer July 25 at Kansas City.

'Once the game got out of hand, I was just trying to do the same thing,' Rodriguez said. 'We're concentrating on the win. I hit the ball well, but everybody was in place.'

Posada had four hits and scored three times, while Matsui had three RBI and crossed the plate four times, as the Yankees posted their second straight victory.

Mike Mussina (6-7) allowed six hits and three runs and fanned six over six innings to get the win, as the Yankees climbed within three games of Cleveland for the lead in the wild card standings.

'You just keep winning games, winning series and keep going after it day by day,' Posada said. 'We put ourselves in a whole and we have to find a way of digging ourselves out of that hole.'

The problems continued for Jose Contreras (5-14), who leads the majors in defeats. He surrendered eight hits, including three homers, and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. The veteran right-hander has lost seven consecutive starts. He's been atrocious in the last three outings, having given up 30 hits and 26 earned runs in that span.

Juan Uribe clubbed a three-run homer for the White Sox, losers of two straight. The eight home runs allowed were a franchise-record.

The White Sox also lost their cool. Manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the bottom of the first inning for arguing balls and strikes. First baseman Paul Konerko was thrown out by Cuzzi in the top of the sixth inning after being called out on strikes.

'You're not going to win that one,' Guillen said of his argument. 'I'm going to be suspended, but this umpire will keep on screwing people. You see he's in the middle of something. I think he overreacted. One thing about him, it's always he's got his nose in the dugout and that's the way to respond for his job.'

It was a lightning-quick start for the Yankees, as Damon led off with an infield hit, Derek Jeter singled and Abreu followed with a blast into the upper deck in right field. After Rodriguez was retired, Matsui delivered another blast to right-center.

Mussina gave up singles to Paul Konerko and Scott Podsednik in the next inning before Uribe connected over the wall in left.

However, Contreras was hit hard again in the third, as the Yankees expanded their lead to 9-3. Matsui walked and Posada singled in front of Cano's three- run shot. Charles Haeger then entered from the bullpen and Andy Phillips reached base on a throwing error from Uribe. Cabrera then homered to left.

Matsui walked in front of Posada's two-tun blast to right in the fourth and the lead was widened to 13-3 after six. Abreu singled, and after Rodriguez was retired, Matsui homered to right for his 21st of the season. Phillips lifted a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Damon led off the seventh with a blast to the upper deck in right off Gavin Floyd, one of three homers he gave up. Duncan connected on a deep ball to left one out later.

Game Notes

Both teams made moves at the non-waiver trading deadline. The Yankees traded relief pitcher Scott Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for utilityman Wilson Betemit. Chicago dealt outfielder Rob Mackowiak to San Diego in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jon Link...White Sox outfielder Darin Erstad was activated from the 15-day disabled list...Matsui had 13 homers in July and has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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