Game 32: Yankees win 6-1

The top four hitters of the Yankees' offense drove in five runs and Mike Mussina pitched well once again during the Yankees' 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

Johnny Damon had two doubles, a home run and two RBI, Derek Jeter had a double and two singles, Bobby Abreu had two hits and Hideki Matsui had two hits and an RBI. Overall, they went 10-19 with five runs scored.

Mussina (4-3) won his third-straight start. He gave up seven hits and one earned run in six innings, striking out five and walking none. He threw 84 pitches. His curveball was working and he was able to hit the corners of the plate at will.

The Yankees were able to get to Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (2-2) early. Damon led off the game with a double and was driven home on an Abreu single.

After the Mariners tied the game at 1 in the third, the Yankees scored three in the bottom half of the inning.

After Jose Molina grounded out to start the inning, Damon hit another double. Jeter then doubled him home to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Abreu then grounded out, followed by a Matsui RBI single. He took second after Raul Ibanez essentially spiked the ball into the ground as he tried to throw to second. Jason Giambi walked and then Melky Cabrera hit an RBI single to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Robinson Cano was intentionally walked to load the bases and Morgan Ensberg flew out to end the threat.

The score would remain 4-1 until the sixth inning. Molina led off with a single and then scored on a Damon two-run home run.

LaTroy Hawkins, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras pitched the final three innings of the game. Hawkins gave up a hit, Ramirez walked two and struck out one and Veras struck out one.

The Yankees have now won two-straight after losing three in a row and are now back to .500 on the season. Darrell Rasner will make his season debut for New York tomorrow afternoon. Opposing him on the mound will be Carlos Silva.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)