Welcome Back Wang

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

Chien-Ming Wang rebounded nicely from his past four bad starts with a very good performance tonight in Oakland. In 7.1 IP he allowed just one run on seven hits, with two walks and two strikes outs. Wang did get himself into trouble almost all night, he allowed the leadoff man to reach in each of the first seven innings, but thanks to four double play balls he was able to get out of every jam. The most important of the four came off the bat of Kurt Suzuki with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning.

He probably could have gone further into the game but Girardi felt like 83 pitches was enough for Wang tonight. I don't really get it, but hey, I don't really get a lot of what Girardi has been doing this year.

Jose Veras came in to replace Wang in the 8th and walked two, but was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run. Girardi seems to like Veras in the 8th inning role - at least while Farnsworth nurses his sore bicep - and Veras has pitched well.

Surprisingly, Mariano Rivera pitched the 9th, and was able to pick up his 17th save of the year. I say "surprisingly" because it was the fourth day in a row that Rivera has pitched. If my research is correct, this is the first time since June 1st - June 4th, 2004, that Rivera has been used four days in a row. I'm guessing he has a day off tomorrow.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wang (W, 7-2)	7.1	7	1	1	2	2	0	4.30
Veras (H, 3)	0.2	0	0	0	2	0	0	3.71
Rivera (S, 17)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.90

A'S PITCHING

The Yankees jumped on the board early with two runs in the top of the first inning. Derek Jeter walked, Bobby Abreu singled to move Jeter to third. Then Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi followed with RBI singles.

A's starter Dana Eveland walked six and the Yanks had many chances to blow the game open, but he was able to avoid further trouble.

Melky Cabrera added a much needed insurance run with a solo HR in the top of the 9th off reliever and former Red Sock, Keith Foulke.

One more thing on Melky, he laid a very nice bunt down in the top of the 7th which he may have been able to beat out, but for some reason the kid can't stop sliding into first base. They've done studies on this; it slows you down when you slide into first, so stop doing it.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	1	0	1	1	0	.325
Jeter, SS	4	1	0	0	1	2	1	.271
Abreu, RF	2	0	2	0	2	0	0	.294
Rodriguez, 3B	4	1	2	1	0	0	2	.321
Giambi, DH	2	0	1	1	1	1	2	.257
Posada, C	3	0	0	0	1	1	5	.299
Betemit, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	5	.222
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.227
Cabrera, CF	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	.269
Totals	31	3	7	3	6	7	16
BATTING HR: Cabrera (7, 9th inning off Foulke, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon; Abreu 2; Rodriguez 2; Giambi; Cabrera 4. RBI: Rodriguez (32), Giambi (35), Cabrera (28). 2-out RBI: Giambi. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Betemit 2; Posada; Rodriguez; Cano. GIDP: Jeter. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING CS: Damon (4, 2nd base by Gaudin/Suzuki).

A'S PITCHING

The win moves the Yankees back to a game over .500, a place I hope they can stay, at 33 and 32. They also gained a game on both the Red Sox and Rays, who both lost tonight.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chien-Ming Wang (7.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Bobby Abreu (2-for-2, 2 BB)

Game two of the three game series is tomorrow night in Oakland. Darrell Rasner starts for the Yanks, with Justin Duchscherer going for the A's. First pitch is set for 10:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES and heard on WCBS 880.