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The veteran pitcher earned his 13th victory of the season in a 5-1 victory over Minnesota.
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Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Mike Mussina allowed six hits over eight scoreless innings as the New York Yankees rolled over Minnesota, 5-1, in the finale of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.
Mussina (13-6) struck out seven and did not walk a batter. It was just the second time all season the crafty right-hander did not allow a run in a start, and the third consecutive time he didn't issue a base on balls.
"I feel confident on the mound. Whatever I need to throw, I can throw it," said Mussina. "Whatever I want to do with it, I can. I have command of the ball when I want to throw it inside or outside. It was a good day. We got a couple breaks and sometimes you have to be aggressive."
Mariano Rivera recorded the game's final out to pick up his 25th save.
Alex Rodriguez and Justin Christian both drove in two runs for the Yankees, who swept the series and have won six straight games.
Mike Lamb went 3-for-4 and drove in the lone run for the Twins, who have lost four in a row. Starter Glen Perkins (7-3) allowed eight hits and five runs over six frames in the loss.
New York snapped a scoreless tie in its fifth-inning at-bat. Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera smacked back-to-back one out singles, and though Jose Molina's groundout left runners at the corners, Christian brought them both in with a double inside the left-field line.
In the sixth, Rodriguez knocked in two more with a double off the wall in left-center. He went to third on the throw home, and scored on Richie Sexson's sacrifice fly to center.
The Yankees defense made the cushion hold up in the sixth. Although Mussina yielded a double and single, solid defensive play kept the Twins off the board. Mussina worked around a Lamb double in the seventh, then retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to finish his outing.
LaTroy Hawkins had a rough ninth after allowing three singles. The last one of which, to Lamb, broke the shutout and Rivera got the nod. He caught Jason Kubel looking to end the contest.
"You're playing a hot team. You make a mistake and they kill you, and that's what we did the whole series," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "Silly mental mistakes kill you and they picked up on everything we didn't do."
Perkins and Mussina matched each other through the first four innings, each allowing only two hits.
Game Notes
Minnesota was outscored 25-7 in the series...It was New York's third consecutive series sweep at home, achieved for the first time since June 1-7, 1998 when the World Series champs swept the White Sox, Devil Rays and Marlins in succession...The Yankees improved to a major-league best 41-4 when leading after six innings...The Twins fell to 3-18 since start of 2002 season in the Bronx, and have dropped seven consecutive series at the Stadium...The Yankees and Red Sox continue their rivalry with a three-game series starting Friday at Fenway...The Twins move on for a three-game set in Cleveland also beginning Friday.
© 2008