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Yankees-Athletics Preview

Apr 21, 2010 - 6:53 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

New York (10-3) at Oakland (9-6), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Although the New York Yankees boast a lineup filled with some of baseball's best hitters, they're finding ways to win without swinging the bat.

After using walks to their advantage in a series-opening victory over Oakland, the surging Yankees look to win their sixth in a row Wednesday night when they face the Athletics' Ben Sheets, who is trying to overcome some control problems early in his comeback.

New York (10-3) managed a season-low five hits in Tuesday's 7-3 win, but showed great patience at the plate with a season-high 10 walks. Five of those batters scored for the reigning World Series champions, who are off to their best start since opening 10-2 in 2003.

"Walks told the whole story," A's manager Bob Geren said. "If you don't throw strikes they will make you pay one way or the other."

Alex Rodriguez received three bases on balls, but also came up with the big hit - a three-run homer in the fifth inning that helped the Yankees beat Oakland (9-6) for the 12th time in 14 games.

Rodriguez's second homer of the year was his 585th, moving him within one of tying Frank Robinson for seventh all-time.

New York drew eight walks in Sunday's 5-2 win over Texas, and lead the majors with 71. Last year, the Yankees also led the majors with 663.

The Yankees will try to employ a similar strategy against Sheets (1-0, 2.65 ERA).

After allowing six runs in 11 innings over his first two starts, Sheets gave up five hits in six shutout innings in Thursday's 6-2 win over Baltimore. It marked the first victory for Sheets, who sat out all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, since a five-hit shutout over San Diego on Sept. 6, 2008, while with Milwaukee.

"It hasn't been easy and it's not going to be easy," said Sheets, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the A's in January. "I'm happy with what's going on so far."

Now, the four-time All-Star wants to work deeper into games and be more efficient. Sheets walked three Thursday, and has issued 10 in 17 innings.

"I'm walking people. I'm not used to walking people," the right-hander said. "I'm used to having more clean innings, and I haven't had many of them."

Sheets was brilliant in his only career start against the Yankees, allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 win for the Brewers in 2005 while in his prime.

New York counters with Phil Hughes (1-0, 3.60), who hopes for a crisper outing after laboring through his season debut.

Hughes beat out Joba Chamberlain to become the fifth starter this spring, but stayed in Tampa for some extra work since the Yankees didn't need him until last week.

Hughes - 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA in 44 relief appearances last season - allowed two runs and three hits in five innings of a 6-2 win. However, he matched a career high with five walks and was lifted after throwing a career-high 108 pitches.

This will be Hughes' first career start against the A's after throwing 4 2-3 scoreless innings over three relief appearances in 2009.