Mussina returns to staff to lead Yanks at Toronto

Sep 12, 2007, 15:00 GMT

- Mike Mussina returns to the rotation this evening for the New York Yankees when they resume their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Mussina, starting tonight in place of the injured Roger Clemens, had been rocked in his previous three starts, leading to his removal from the starting staff. In his last start on August 27 against Detroit Mussina surrendered six runs and nine hits in just three innings, dropping him to 8-10 on the season.

The 38-year-old right-hander has given up 19 earned runs and 25 hits over his last three starts, spanning just 9 2/3 innings. He has had a relief appearance since being taken out of the rotation and allowed two runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of that appearance against Seattle on September 3.

Mussina has enjoyed some success against Toronto in his career, going 21-11 against them with a 3.38 ERA in 39 starts.

Toronto will counter with young right-hander Dustin McGowan, who is 10-8 with a 3.90 ERA on the year. McGowan won his second straight start on Friday against Tampa Bay, as he gave up a pair of runs and four hits in eight innings.

McGowan, who is 6-2 at home this season, beat the Yankees the last time he faced them and is 2-0 against the Bronx Bombers with a 3.97 ERA in seven games, three of which have been starts.

In the opener of this set on Tuesday, Jason Giambi belted his 12th-career grand slam as New York rolled to a 9-2 win. Jorge Posada also homered for the streaking Yankees, who won their sixth straight and now lead the AL wild card race by four games over Detroit. The Tigers split a doubleheader with Texas on Tuesday.

Johnny Damon finished 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for the Yankees, and Alex Rodriguez, who had homered in five straight games, finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Phil Hughes (3-3) struggled early but settled down and pitched well to pick up the win. The young right-hander allowed just two runs -- one earned -- on three hits in six innings.

Edwar Ramirez and Ross Ohlendorf, who was making his Yankees debut, finished things with three innings of scoreless relief.

Russ Adams drove in a run for the Blue Jays, who lost their fourth straight game.

Shaun Marcum (12-6) was touched for eight runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings en route to the loss.

The Yankees have won seven of their 12 meetings with the Blue Jays this season and are 41-26 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Yanks have also split their last 16 matchups north of the border.

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