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Yanks sweep A's, beat Oakland for 10th straight time

Jun 2, 2011 - 2:55 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer in the fourth to back seven solid innings from A.J. Burnett, as the Yankees edged the Athletics, 4-2, to sweep the three-game series.

Burnett (6-3) gave up a two-run homer to Josh Willingham in the first inning, but was otherwise strong. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out five, and also pitched seven innings for the first time since May 11. The right-hander hadn't lasted more than 6 1/3 in any of his previous three starts.

Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double for New York, which recorded its first three-game sweep of the season and has won a season-high four in a row overall.

Gio Gonzalez (5-3) gave up all four runs in 6 1/3 innings as Oakland lost to the Yankees for the 10th consecutive time.

"Any time you win 10 in a row off a club, it just doesn't really happen very often," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "They have talent over there and a very good pitching staff. We've just kind of had our way and we've been fortunate."

The Yankees got on the board in the first inning, when Rodriguez hit a two-out double to plate Derek Jeter, who had led off with a double.

Willingham put Oakland in front in the bottom half with his 10th homer of the season. With David DeJesus on second after a double, Burnett fell behind 3-1 and threw a fastball over the plate and up, and Willingham crushed it into the left field seats.

But the Yankees re-claimed the lead on Swisher's blast. Rodriguez led off with a single and Robinson Cano walked to set the stage for Swisher, who tried to bunt twice but took two low fastballs.

Gonzalez came back with another fastball, but it was down the center of the plate and at the knees. The location was prime for Swisher, who keyed on the pitch and drove it down the left field line for a 4-2 edge.

"Just trying to find the strike zone, he threw one right down the middle," said Oakland manager Bob Geren.

Burnett made the lead stick by allowing only one more baserunner -- Coco Crisp, who tripled with two away in the fifth but was stranded after DeJesus grounded out.

The A's had another scoring opportunity against Joba Chamberlain in the eighth, when Crisp and DeJesus hit consecutive one-out singles. However, Conor Jackson lined into a double play at first.

Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth inning for his 14th save.

Game Notes

The Yankees' 10-game winning streak against the A's is their longest since beating them 14 times in a row from September 13, 1956-July 12, 1957...Jeter's double gave him 2,984 career hits...New York improved to 14-3 in day games and 23-3 when limiting its opponent to three or fewer runs...Gonzalez had won his last three decisions...Oakland concluded a stretch of 20 consecutive days without a day off. It went 9-11 in that span. The A's have Thursday off before opening a 10-game road trip in Boston.