• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mussina aims for 11th win as Yankees face Pirates

Jun 26, 2008 - 1:07 PM NY Yankees (42-36) at Pittsburgh (37-41), 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Mike Mussina will attempt to become the third pitcher in the majors to reach the 11-win mark when the New York Yankees square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Mussina (10-5, 3.93 ERA), who is looking to join Anaheim's Joe Saunders and Arizona's Brandon Webb as the only players to have 11 wins, failed to reach the mark in his last outing despite a solid outing.

The 39-year-old righthander tossed eight innings during Friday's 4-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, surrendering four runs and 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Bobby Abreu and Robinson Cano each went 3-for-5 and hit home runs, and Derek Jeter had three hits and scored three runs as New York won for the ninth time in 12 outings with a 10-0 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh will send Paul Maholm (5-5, 4.41) to the mound. The lefthander is looking to win his fourth straight decision after allowing three runs and seven hits with three walks over seven frames in Saturday's 6-3 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Maholm faced the Yankees during spring training, receiving national media attention during that game after striking out comedian Billy Crystal, who was awarded a one-day contract by the club.