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RHP Mussina looking to get back on track vs. White Sox

Jun 7, 2007 - 3:24 PM NY Yankees (26-31) at Chi White Sox (26-29) 8:11 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees are hitting their stride. Mike Mussina hopes to take advantage of it.

Mussina takes the mound against the Chicago White Sox as the Yankees go for their seventh win in nine games on Thursday.

Chien-Ming Wang gave the bullpen a much need break by throwing a complete game in Wednesday's 5-1 win. It was the first complete game the Yankees have had since Wang beat Tampa Bay on July 28 of last season.

In addition to that, the Yankees offense has woken up, averaging eight runs in the last five games. New York had been averaging just under three runs in a recent five-game skid.

Meanwhile Mussina (2-3, 6.25 ERA) hopes that will end his drought of five starts without a win. To do so he will need to pitch a lot better than he has been recently.

On Saturday, Mussina allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings and walked four against Boston. The righthander received a no-decision in that game, but it was the continuance of a disturbing trend. The 39-year-old has allowed five or more runs in three of his last five starts.

Chicago is the only team in the American League besides the Yankees that Mussina has a losing record against. He is 15-16 with a 4.72 ERA in 35 starts against the White Sox.

The White Sox will send Jose Contreras (4-5, 4.29) to the mound. Contreras is also coming off a no-decision. The righthander allowed three runs - two earned - and nine hits over 6 1/3 innings against Toronto on Saturday.

The White Sox have lost nine of 11 and have been held to three runs or less 25 times.