Game 22: Yankees win 6-4

At least for one night, Mike Mussina (2-3) proved he can still be successful in the Yankees' rotation. The veteran right-hander pitched seven solid innings in their 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox Wednesday night.

In those seven innings, he only gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking run. The two runs came on solo home runs when the Yankees had already established the lead.

The Yankees gave Mussina support in the second inning. After Jorge Posada grounded into a double play, they put together a two-out rally. Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi both walked and Morgan Ensberg hit a ball off Chicago starter Javier Vazquez (3-2). Melky Cabrera then hit an infield single to the right of shortstop Orlando Cabrera to give the Yankees their first run.

In 5 1-3 innings, Vazquez allowed six earned runs on 10 hits. He also struck out three batters and walked three batters.

It stayed a 1-0 game until the top of the fifth. With Johnny Damon on first with two out, Hideki Matsui hit a single. Both were driven home on a Posada double to center. This was the first of Posada's three doubles on the night. Posada finished 4-5 with those two RBI on the night.

The White Sox made it a 3-1 game in the bottom half of the fifth on a Joe Crede home run - his sixth of the year.

The game was seemingly broken open in the top of the sixth. Damon hit a two-run double and Derek Jeter hit an RBI single to give the Yankees a 6-1 lead.

Mussina then gave up a two-out solo home run to Carlos Quentin in the seventh. Manager Joe Girardi came out to take out Mussina, but Posada prevented him from signaling to the bullpen. Mussina then got Crede for the final out of the inning to end his outing.

LaTroy Hawkins relieved Mussina in the eighth. He walked a batter with one out and then allowed a single. He was then taken out for Billy Traber, who allowed an RBI single to Jim Thome. With runners on first and third, Mariano Rivera was brought in for a five-out save. He induced a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning to make the score 6-4. He the got the last out in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save of the season. Both runs in the inning were charged to Hawkins, raising his season ERA to 11.17.

The Yankees, on a three-game winning streak, improve to 12-10 with the victory, while the White Sox fall to 11-9. Phil Hughes will start for New York Thursday night, as they look to sweep Chicago. Gavin Floyd will look to prevent that. The fun begins at 8:11.

Notes: The only Yankees without hits were Bobby Abreu (0-5), the hitting hero from last night, and Robinson Cano (0-4 with a walk). ... Giambi was intentionally walked twice and actually hit a single, his second of the season. ... Damon, Posada and Cabrera all had at least two hits.

(AP Photo/Brian Kersey)