Moose pitches well as Yanks down Blue Jays

Sep 13, 2007, 2:43 GMT

Toronto, ON - Mike Mussina threw five-plus scoreless innings as New York downed Toronto, 4-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Robinson Cano was 1-for-4 with a two-run single and had 11 assists in the field for the red-hot Yankees, who won their seventh straight and continue to lead Detroit by four games in the AL wild card race. The Tigers downed Texas, 5-1, on Wednesday.

The Red Sox also won on Wednesday, 5-4 over Tampa Bay, maintaining their five- game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

Mussina (9-10) returned to the rotation for New York and hurled 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The veteran right-hander, who started in place of the injured Roger Clemens, had been rocked in his previous three starts, leading to his removal from the starting staff. But, the veteran allowed just five hits, walked three and fanned one before giving way to Edwar Ramirez, who got the final out of the sixth.

Rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain picked up from there and got the game to Mariano Rivera but did give up the first run of his major league career, albeit an unearned one.

Russ Adams was 2-for-5 with a run scored for the Blue Jays, who lost their fifth straight game.

Dustin McGowan (10-9) surrendered four runs on just three hits in five innings of work en route to the loss.

The Yankees jumped on top with a pair of runs in the first. McGowan issued consecutive two-out walks to Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez before Hideki Matsui slapped a run-scoring double to left. Rodriguez then crossed the plate when McGowan uncorked a wild pitch.

New York added two more runs in the fourth. Matsui singled, swiped second and went to third on a Jorge Posada base hit. McGowan loaded the bases by plunking Jason Giambi and Cano followed by slicing a two-run single to left. McGowan avoided any further damage by getting Melky Cabrera to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and Johnny Damon to chop out to short.

The Blue Jays chased Mussina in the sixth after the veteran walked Frank Thomas and gave up a single to Matt Stairs with two down. Ramirez came on and promptly walked Aaron Hill to load the bases but the slender right-hander wiggled out of trouble by inducing Lyle Overbay to line out to right.

Toronto finally got on the board in the eighth when Chamberlain struggled with his command. Adams led off the frame by lacing a double. The big right-hander looked like he would get out of trouble when he fanned Alex Rios and got Thomas on a weak ground ball. But, Hill hit a routine ground ball to Rodriguez and the MVP candidate threw wildly to first, enabling Adams to score. Rivera came on at that point and gave up an infield single to Overbay before slamming the door by punching out Gregg Zaun.

Rivera then hurled a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 26th save on the season.

Game Notes

Chamberlain pitched 16 straight scoreless innings after being called up from the minors, the longest streak to start a career in Yankees history...Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Shelley Duncan underwent an MRI exam in New York that revealed a bone bruise in his left pelvis and a small hernia. The rookie is listed as day-to-day...Mussina is now 22-11 against Toronto in 40 career starts...The Yankees are 8-5 versus the Blue Jays this season...The Jays outhit the Yankees 7-4.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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