Abreu and A-Rod Lead Yanks to Win

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Kansas City	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	6	0
N.Y. Yankees	2	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	X		6	9	1

It wasn't as exciting as yesterday's game, but the Yanks were able to pick up their second straight victory over the Kansas City Royals today at The Stadium, winning by a score of 6-3. The win improved the Yankees to a game over .500 at 32-31.

Joba Chamberlain made his second career Major League start and pitched well. In 4.1 innings he allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits, while walking one and striking out five. He only made one mistake on the day and that was a hanging slider to Jose Guillen who launched it deep into the left field seats. Otherwise he looked very good, much better than his previous start. He threw a lot of strikes, and more importantly, first pitch strikes. He was hitting 99 in the 4th, and 97 5th, so his velocity didn't seem to be effected by the added workload. Joba threw 78 pitches today and will be able to throw around 90 his next start.

Once again Dan Giese replaced Joba and he pitched very well, and picked up his first big league win. In 2.2 IP, he didn't allow a hit or a walk, and struck out three. The only base runner he allowed reached on a wild pitch on a strike out.

Jose Veras pitched a solid 8th inning, allowing just one hit, and striking out two. And Mariano Rivera picked up his 16th save of the year with a 1-2-3 9th.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Chamberlain	4.1	5	3	2	1	5	1	2.67
Giese (W, 1-1)	2.2	0	0	0	0	3	0	1.42
Veras (H, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3.86
Rivera (S, 16)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.64

ROYALS PITCHING

The Yanks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Bobby Abreu launched one into the upper deck in right in the 1st inning.

With the Yanks down 3-2 in the 5th, Johnny Damon led off the inning with a triple, and two batters later scored on a ground out by Abreu.

Jason Giambi broke the tie with another long HR, his team-leading 14th of the year. Giambi had 14 homers all of last year.

The Yanks added two more runs in the 7th on a two-run double by Alex Rodriguez scoring Abreu and Damon, who had both previously singled.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	5	2	2	0	0	1	1	.328
Jeter, SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	.279
Abreu, RF	4	2	2	3	0	1	0	.289
Rodriguez, 3B	2	0	2	2	2	0	0	.313
Matsui, LF	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	.329
Giambi, 1B	4	1	1	1	0	1	3	.259
Betemit, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.240
Posada, C	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	.301
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.231
Cabrera, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.274
Totals	31	6	9	6	6	7	14
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez (15, Mahay). 3B: Damon (3, Greinke). HR: Abreu (8, 1st inning off Greinke, 1 on, 1 out), Giambi (14, 6th inning off Greinke, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Damon 4; Jeter; Abreu 5; Rodriguez 3; Giambi 4; Cano. RBI: Abreu 3 (42), Giambi (34), Rodriguez 2 (29). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada. GIDP: Cano. Team LOB: 7.

ROYALS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bobby Abreu (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Rodriguez (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB)

The Yanks look to take the series tomorrow afternoon in the Bronx. Mike Mussina takes the mound for the Yankees, with Luke Hochevar starting for the Royals. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES, and heard on WCBS 880.