Game 27: Yankees win 5-2

After dropping the first two games of the four game series in Cleveland, the Yankees were able to pull out victories in the next to games to split the series, including tonight's 5-2 victory behind the pitching of Mike Mussina Monday night.

Mussina (3-3) held the Indians scoreless until the fifth inning, when he allowed two runs. He surrendered four-straight hits to start the inning. Jason Michaels had an RBI single in the inning, and Travis Hafner added a sacrifice fly. After loading the bases with two out, Mussina was able to get Jhonny Peralta to line out to end the inning.

In total, Mussina pitched those five innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. He also struck out two batters and only walked one.

The Yankees were held hitless by Aaron Laffey until the sixth inning. Melky Cabrera led off with an infield single, followed by singles from Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu to load the bases with no outs. Alex Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch to score the Yankees' first run. They would then score two more runs on consecutive grounds out to first by Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui. Morgan Ensberg hit a ball down the third base line to drive in the fourth and final run of the inning.

Despite holding the Yankees hitless for the majority of his outing, Laffey (0-1) got the loss. In 5 2-3 innings, he allowed three hits and four earned runs.

The Yankees added a run in the eighth inning on a Matsui RBI double.

After Mussina, the Yankees' bullpen pitched four scoreless innings. Jonathan Albaladejo, Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera each pitched one inning and struck out a batter. Rivera recorded his eighth save of the season in the process.

The Yankees improve to 14-13 with the victory and will travel to the Bronx to begin the nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Phil Hughes is scheduled to face Kenny Rogers tomorrow night.

(REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk)