Sexson and Yanks Coming Out Swinging

If last night was any indication of how the Yankees will perform in the second half of the season against left-handed pitching, things should be all right. Newly acquired Richie Sexson had an RBI single plus a walk in 4 plate appearances and Robinson Cano hit a big 3-run home run to catapult the Yankees to a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Mike Mussina (12-6) turned in another gem, allowing one run over 6 innings to earn his 12th win, and the bullpen continued to excel with 3 scoreless innings. Mussina fell behind 1-0 in the 1st inning, but in the Yankees half of the inning, their newest acquisition paid immediate dividends.

Bobby Abreu started things off with a one out single against starter Greg Smith and Alex Rodriguez followed with a walk. Then it was Sexson's turn. The 6'8" 1st baseman, released by the Mariners on July 10, singled to center field to score Abreu with the tying run.

In the 3rd, a single by A-Rod and a walk to Jorge Posada put two men on with just one out. Smith struck out Sexson, but Robinson Cano drove a pitch into the right field seats for a 3-run home run and a 4-1 Yankees lead. The Bombers drove Smith from the game an inning later when Abreu and A-Rod stroked RBI hits for a 6-1 advantage. A-Rod would cap the night off with his 20th home run of the season, and the 538th of his career, in the 6th inning.

The A's put two runners on against Mussina in both the 4th and 5th innings, but he escaped the former with an inning ending strikeout and the latter with a 4-6-3 double play. He threw 93 pitches on the night, scattering 9 hits and didn't walk a batter, while striking out 6. It was also career win number 262.


News and Notes

The Yankees held a moment of silence for Bobby Murcer prior to the game and the scoreboard outside the Stadium also honored him.

The Yankees sent Billy Traber down to Scranton before the game and moved Phil Hughes to the 60-day DL to make room on the 25 and 40 man rosters for Richie Sexson.

A-Rod's home run was his 40th against the A's, the most by any active player.

The Yankees bullpen has posted a 1.51 ERA over the past 17 games with a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio.

July 18, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Oakland	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	9	1
NY Yankees	1	0	3	2	0	1	0	0	X		7	10	0

Oakland	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ellis, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	3	3	.238
Suzuki, C	4	0	2	0	0	1	0	.283
Sweeney, R, RF	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.300
Cust, DH	4	0	1	0	0	3	3	.230
Brown, E, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.255
Crosby, SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.260
Gonzalez, C, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.273
Hannahan, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.223
a-Murton, PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.208
Murphy, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	2	1	.186
Totals	35	1	9	1	0	12	16
a-Struck out for Hannahan in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Ellis (18, Mussina). TB: Ellis 2; Suzuki 2; Sweeney, R; Cust; Brown, E; Crosby; Gonzalez, C; Murphy. RBI: Sweeney, R (31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Crosby; Ellis. GIDP: Brown, E. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Crosby (11, throw). Outfield assists: Sweeney, R (Rodriguez, A at home). DP: (Murphy-Ellis-Hannahan).

Oakland	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Smith (L, 5-8)	3.2	8	6	6	5	1	1	3.79
Blevins	1.1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Braden	1.0	1	1	1	1	0	1	4.80
Brown, A	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.23
DiNardo	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	9.28

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	3	1	0	0	2	0	2	.282
Abreu, RF	5	2	2	1	0	0	1	.275
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	2	3	2	1	1	1	.318
Posada, DH	1	1	0	0	3	0	2	.270
Sexson, 1B	3	0	1	1	1	1	3	.220
Cano, 2B	4	1	2	3	0	0	3	.249
Cabrera, CF	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.245
Molina, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.220
Gardner, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.150
Totals	32	7	10	7	7	4	16
BATTING 2B: Abreu (23, Smith), Cabrera (11, Blevins). HR: Cano (7, 3rd inning off Smith, 2 on, 2 out), Rodriguez, A (20, 6th inning off Braden, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Abreu 3; Rodriguez, A 6; Sexson; Cano 5; Cabrera 3. RBI: Sexson (31), Cano 3 (41), Abreu (60), Rodriguez, A 2 (55). 2-out RBI: Sexson; Cano 3; Abreu; Rodriguez, A. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 2; Jeter. GIDP: Sexson. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Rodriguez, A (14, 2nd base off Smith/Suzuki). FIELDING DP: (Cano-Sexson).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (W, 12-6)	6.0	9	1	1	0	6	0	3.49
Robertson	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	2.00
Ramirez	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2.65
Hawkins	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5.63

Pitches-strikes: Smith 88-49, Blevins 22-16, Braden 15-5,
Brown, A 9-5, DiNardo 19-10, Mussina 93-64, Robertson 12-11,
Ramirez 11-9, Hawkins 9-6.
Ground outs-fly outs: Smith 3-6, Blevins 1-1, Braden 2-1,
Brown, A 1-2, DiNardo 1-1, Mussina 8-4, Robertson 0-0, Ramirez 1-0, Hawkins 2-0.
Batters faced: Smith 23, Blevins 5, Braden 4, Brown, A 3,
DiNardo 4, Mussina 26, Robertson 3, Ramirez 3, Hawkins 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Blevins 3-0.
Umpires: HP: Mike Winters. 1B: James Hoye.
2B: Mike Estabrook. 3B: Hunter Wendelstedt.
Weather: 93 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, Out to CF.
T: 2:47.
Att: 54,145.

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