Mussina Shuts Down Rangers, Leads Yanks to Series Split

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1		3	11	0
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	8	0

Mike Mussina picked up his 15th win of the season with an impressive performance against the hard-hitting Texas Rangers. In seven inning Moose allowed no runs on eight scattered hit, while walking only one and striking out six. Mussina is now 15-7 with a 3.27 ERA for the season, and he's 14-4 with a 2.85 ERA since starting the year 1-3 with a 5.75 ERA.

It was another good night for the pen, and after three or four bad games, it looks like they're finding their groove again. Brian Bruney faced, and retired one batter. Damaso Marte then came in to retire the next two. And Mariano Rivera pitched the 9th, and picked up his 28th save in as many opportunities.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (W, 15-7)	7.0	8	0	0	1	6	0	3.27
Bruney (H, 4)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.88
Marte (H, 18)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.13
Rivera (S, 28)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.43

RANGERS PITCHING

It appears that Derek Jeter has gotten his swing back, tonight he got the Yankees on the board early with a solo homer in the top of the first inning. The homer was Jeter's 7th of the season.

The Yanks added their second run in the 5th on a RBI single by Johnny Damon.

Jeter also drove in the Yankees third run on an RBI single in the 9th.

I'm not happy that the Yankees were only able to score three runs on a night where Scott Feldman was the opposing pitcher, but they got the win, and that's really all that matters.

Jeter and Cano had three hits each, and Johnny Damon also had a mutli-hit game with two hits.

Tampa Bay lost tonight so the Yankees now trail the Rays by 5.5 games in the division, and just 3 games in the Wild Card as they picked up a half game on the idle Red Sox.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF-LF	5	0	2	1	0	1	2	.318
Jeter, DH	4	1	3	2	1	0	0	.286
Abreu, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	3	.291
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	2	.312
Giambi, 1B	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	.255
1-Cabrera, PR-CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.242
Nady, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.333
Sexson, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.226
Cano, 2B	4	0	3	0	0	0	2	.266
Betemit, SS	4	2	1	0	0	1	3	.250
Molina, C	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.236
Totals	34	3	11	3	3	5	19
1-Ran for Giambi in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Cano (24, Wright). HR: Jeter (7, 1st inning off Feldman, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 2; Jeter 6; Abreu; Nady; Cano 4; Betemit. RBI: Jeter 2 (55), Damon (49). 2-out RBI: Damon; Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Betemit; Abreu; Nady. GIDP: Cano; Rodriguez, A; Damon. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (7, 2nd base off Wright/Laird).

RANGERS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Mussina (7 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Derek Jeter (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB, SB)

The Yankees travel to California to take on the Angels in a three game series. Ian Kennedy will make his first start since May 27th, and he will take on the Angels Jered Weaver. Game Time: 10:05 p.m. - TV: YES - Radio: WCBS 880