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Abreu, Giambi homer in Yankees' rout

May 24, 2008 - 10:15 PM By Larry Fleisher PA Sports Ticker Contributing Writer

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees accomplished two things Saturday. They had another productive day at the plate and successfully continued Joba Chamberlain's transition to a starting pitcher.

Chamberlain pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Mike Mussina and the Yankees had 16 hits as they extended their season-high winning streak to four games with a 12-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Jason Giambi hit an opposite-field three-run home run in a four-run second inning while Bobby Abreu homered and drove in four runs.

Robinson Cano tied a career high with a four hits and also equaled a career best with three doubles. Melky Cabrera added a pair of run-scoring singles for New York, which has scored 35 times in its last four games.

The Yankees have scored 25 runs in their last two games, their most in consecutive games since getting 26 on July 29 and 31 of last season.

They also hit .419 (13-for-31) with runners in scoring position in the final two games of the week, which started with two blowout losses to the New York Mets and Baltimore.

The offensive surge has coincided with the return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday.

"I think we're OK right now," Abreu said. "That's the way that we play the game. We score some runs and give support to our pitchers and this is us."

The offense took a backseat to Chamberlain's 19th relief appearance, which started in the sixth inning instead of his usual spot in the eighth setting up for closer Mariano Rivera. Chamberlain came in as part of the process to make him a member of the rotation at some point this season.

"It was a little bit (different mindset), just to make sure my legs are going and everything," Chamberlain said. "It was weird riding the bike in the third inning. It took a little bit to get going but your mind is so used to get going when you're out there, so it's just another thing to get used to."

The adjustment actually started in Wednesday's 8-0 rout of Baltimore, when Chamberlain threw 35 pitches in the final two innings. After Wednesday's game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi officially announced that Chamberlain's role was going to change.

On Saturday, Chamberlain followed Mussina (6-4), who allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings en route to his sixth win in his last seven starts.

Chamberlain, who was projected to throw 45 pitches, was pulled after tossing 40 on Saturday. Girardi did not say when the next phase of the transition will continue because he needed to first consult with pitching coach Dave Eiland.

"It's a process," Girardi said. "It's going to take some time. We can't hit the exact number every time like we did last time."

Chamberlain needed just 13 pitches to get through the sixth and he ended the frame with back-to-back strikeouts of Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima - both on sliders.

He struggled a bit more in the seventh, throwing 27 pitches while allowing a leadoff single to Yuniesky Betancourt and a two-out walk to Jose Vidro.

"It's going to be the same mentality as it was in the eighth inning throughout the first, the second and through seven," Chamberlain added. "You still got to go attack them and make sure that you have everything that you did in the eighth inning."

The Yankees struck for four runs in the second off Carlos Silva (3-4) as Giambi lined a 1-2 changeup over the left-center field fence for his ninth home run. The Yankees had six hits in the inning and went up 4-0 on Cabrera's RBI single.

Mussina, who pitched on three days' rest, gave it right back as Vidro hit a three-run home run and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot.

Richie Sexson hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning that made it a six-run game.

The Mariners equaled a season high with their fifth straight defeat and lost for the 18th time in 23 games. Seattle also fell to 1-12 in its last 13 road contests and has been outscored 44-13 in its five losses to the Yankees this season .

"You want to keep playing hard, no matter what," Silva said. "You want to fight to the end. I wish everyone had that mentality."