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Giambi's homer sparks Yankees

Jun 8, 2008 - 10:27 PM By Zachary Braziller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Joba Chamberlain's second major league start for the New York Yankees was far more impressive than his first.

Chamberlain pitched into the fifth inning Sunday, then watched his teammates rally for a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Jason Giambi snapped a 3-3 tie with a solo home run off Kansas City starter Zach Greinke (5-4) in the sixth inning, his third homer in four games. Alex Rodriguez provided insurance with a two-run double in the seventh.

The Yankees increased Chamberlain's pitch limit to 75, hoping he would get through five innings. He didn't quite make it, allowing three runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 frames. It was still an improvement from his first start on Tuesday, when was lifted with one out in the third inning after walking four.

On Sunday, Chamberlain threw 53 of 78 pitches for strikes and was consistently throwing in the 90s, even in the fifth inning. He walked one and struck out five.

"I just continued to attack the strike zone, not try to do too much, continue to throw strike zone," Chamberlain said. "From the first start, it was a little different. Having these days in between - the full five days - it felt a little better. And getting those two early runs made it a little better."

Bobby Abreu staked Chamberlain to an early 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. Chamberlain could not hold the lead but made only one mistake, giving up a two-run homer to Jose Guillen that gave the Royals a 3-2 lead in the third.

It was the third homer in two days for Guillen, who tied a franchise record with seven RBI in Saturday's 12-11 loss.

The Royals scored an unearned run in the second, when Alex Gordon - Chamberlain's former college teammate - came home on Jorge Posada's passed ball.

"It was much better," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Chamberlain's performance. "He went in there with the intention of being aggressive, getting some quick outs."

The Royals managed just two baserunners against New York relievers Dan Giese (1-1), Jose Veras and Mariano Rivera.

Chamberlain left trailing, but he retired five of the last six batters he faced after hanging a slider to Guillen.

Giese followed Chamberlain with 2 2/3 hitless innings to record his first career victory. He allowed one baserunner as Miguel Olivo reached on a wild pitch after striking out.

"I couldn't have written the script any better," said the 31-year-old Giese, who pitched briefly for the San Francisco Giants last season.

Veras pitched a scoreless eighth before Rivera worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save - one day after he gave up a home run to David DeJesus.

The Yankees tied the game in the fifth, when Damon led off with a triple and scored one out later on Abreu's grounder to second.

New York could have done more damage if not for two spectacular plays by Royals center fielder Joey Gathright. He made a running catch on Posada's drive against the wall in center field to save two runs in the first inning, then made a diving grab of Melky Cabrera's sinking line drive in the fourth inning.

"It's an expansive area he's got to cover, especially here in left-center," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "He's the only guy we have on the club who can cover that much area so quickly."

"I've seen enough of him for a while," Girardi added. "Probably the best advice I can give our hitters is to keep the ball out of the air to center."

No one could get to Rodriguez's double in the seventh off Ron Mahay that rolled to the wall in left-center field and gave New York a 6-3 cushion.

"Right now, we have a little more attitude on offense," Damon said. "We know we are going to be able to score some runs."