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Mussina, Damon help Yankees edge White Sox

Apr 24, 2008 - 4:56 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Being told his best days are behind him is nothing new for Mike Mussina. Nor is it unusual for him to rebound from a rough stretch to put together a masterpiece.

Mussina changed speeds and location with perfection, throwing seven strong innings as the New York Yankees posted a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Mussina (2-3) allowed just two runs and four hits in his longest start of the season. The 39-year-old righthander struck out three and walked one.

Mussina rebounded after being pounded by the Yankees' archrival Boston Red Sox in his previous two starts. The 39-year-old righthander, who posted a career-worst 5.15 ERA last season, had allowed nine runs and 15 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

"Moose has had to live with that the last couple years," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about the scrutiny. "You know, he should be satisfied."

"All wins are satisfying, but it's nice to go back out there after struggling for a couple games, to be successful again," Mussina said.

The win moved Mussina ahead of Bob Gibson for 42nd on baseball's all-time wins list with 252.

"I didn't throw hardly any breaking balls, a lot of cutters, a lot of sinkers, a lot of change-ups," Mussina said.

"I think I had really good movement today," he said. "It seemed like I jammed a lot of guys. They were diving out over the plate and the ball ran back in on them a little bit. I think my movement was my biggest asset today. I usually don't go out there planning not to throw curveballs. A curveball is usually a pretty big part of my game."

Jorge Posada had four hits - including a career-high three doubles and two RBI - and Johnny Damon broke open a close game with a two-run double in the sixth to lead the Yankees to their second straight win.

With New York ahead, 3-1, in the sixth, Damon drilled a two-base hit to left-center field that stretched the lead to four runs and Derek Jeter followed with an RBI single.

Carlos Quentin homered off Mussina in the seventh and the White Sox rallied against the Yankees' bullpen in the eighth. With one out, Nick Swisher walked and Orlando Cabrera singled, chasing LaTroy Hawkins.

Jim Thome's RBI single off Billy Traber led Girardi to bring in Mariano Rivera for a rare eighth-inning appearance.

"The game was on the line," Girardi said. "To me, that was where we had to shut the door and close the game. You draw it up that you close the game always in the ninth, but it doesn't always go according to plan. So that was when we needed him (Rivera)."

Paul Konerko's sacrifice fly to right cut the deficit to 6-4. However, Rivera got Jermaine Dye to pop out to end the threat and worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season.

The Yankees, who were without Alex Rodriguez for a second straight game, opened the scoring in the second as Melky Cabrera drove in a run with an infield single.

Rodriguez is in Miami with his wife, who gave birth to their second child on Monday. The superstar also is recovering from a strained right quadriceps.

Posada made it 3-0 in the fifth with a two-run double off White Sox starter Javier Vazquez.

A former Yankee, Vazquez (3-2) allowed six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings after winning his previous three starts.

"Javy was off," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He kept us in the game but he had heavy counts all game with a lot of pitches early. He couldn't find the strike zone early. They have a lot of guys who will make you pitch tough throughout the game."

Joe Crede homered for Chicago, which has lost seven of the last eight meetings between the teams dating to last season.