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Wang carries Yankees past Tigers

Aug 26, 2007 - 3:49 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Chien-Ming Wang remained perfect when it comes to the Detroit Tigers.

Wang tossed eight strong innings and Johnny Damon homered as the New York Yankees coasted to a 7-2 triumph over the Tigers on Saturday night.

Wang (15-6) allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits with six strikeouts to improve to 5-0 in six career outings against Detroit. He has won back-to-back starts against the Tigers, who were held to three runs in a loss to Wang at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

"I was more smooth out there," said Wang, who threw just 70 pitches. "Before, I was just throwing the ball. I made my pitches (tonight). I had more control and was able to throw strikes and hit the corners. I wanted to keep my pitch count down and stay in the game as long as possible."

"(Wang) pitched a great game," Detroit's Brandon Inge said. "He's got that nasty sinker that is tough to make contact with. Placido Polanco is one of the best hitters in the game when it comes to putting the bat on the ball, and he was having trouble. That shows you how good that guy is."

The righthander was supplied with early run support despite the fact Friday's series opener lasted until 3:30 a.m. local time due a four-hour rain delay and extra innings.

In the first frame, Bobby Abreu singled and stole second and Alex Rodriguez walked before Hideki Matsui laced a two-run double to deep left-center field off Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman (10-7) for a 2-0 bulge.

"I wasn't out to steal bases," Abreu said. "I just wanted to do my thing, score runs and give us a chance to win."

Damon delivered a solo homer - his eighth of the season - in the third and struck again in the sixth with an RBI triple, extending the Yankees' lead to 7-2. Melky Cabrera's three-run triple - his eighth of the campaign - down the first base line sparked the four-run sixth.

"Bonderman is a good pitcher that gives us fits," Damon said. "We got him to slow down. We played with a lot energy and got the big hit when we needed it."

With the win, New York (72-57) climbed within two games of first-place Seattle (73-54) in the American League wild card race. The Mariners lost to the Texas Rangers, 5-3, on Saturday.

Bonderman, who was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 frames, remained winless in his last eight starts. He walked four and failed to record a strikeout for the first time all season.

"I got two quick outs in the first and then single, walk, double and I'm down 2-0," Bonderman said. "I thought I was pitching pretty decent in the sixth, but I got into some trouble, and then I made one bad pitch for the triple, and then another one to Damon.

"I've got to pitch better. I have to find a way to start giving us a chance to win."

All-Star Magglio Ordonez had an RBI single in the first and Inge came home on a wild pitch in the fifth for the Tigers (69-60), who fell 2 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians (71-57) in the AL Central Division.

"They just beat us," Inge said. "We played hard, but they were better."