Game 41: Yankees win 2-1

A closed-door meeting didn't exactly cause an offensive explosion Wednesday night, but it inspired the Yankees just enough to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 at Tropicana Field. This was the Rays' first home loss since April 15.

As the score says, the game was a pitcher's duel between Mike Mussina and James Shields.

Mussina (6-3) won his fifth consecutive start, going 6 1-3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out four and walking one. He threw 87 pitches.

Shields (4-3) was almost as good. He struck out six and walked two in 7 1-3 innings, but also gave up two earned runs and six hits.

Before the game, the Yankees were batting .219 with runners in scoring position and two out. However, both of their runs were scored in that exact situation.

In the fourth inning, Hideki Matsui doubled with two outs. The next batter, Robinson Cano, drove him home with a single. Cano went 4-4 to raise his batting average to .205.

In the fifth inning, Morgan Ensberg led off with a single. He reached second on a Jose Molina sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on Bobby Abreu's bloop double after Johnny Damon struck out swinging.

With the way Mussina was pitching, this was enough. Manager Joe Girardi tried to stretch him out in the seventh, but after walking a batter with out, Mussina was removed and replaced by Ross Ohlendorf.

He gave up two-straight singles to score one run. Things could have been much worse, but Ohlendorf got Gabe Gross to line into a double play to end the Rays' threat.

Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out the side and walked one batter. Mariano Rivera recorded his 10th save of the season by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth. He received the loss in last night's game, but rebounded quickly tonight.

The Yankees improve to 20-21 on the season and will look to split the four-game series tomorrow night. Ian Kennedy returns from his short stint in the minors to start for New York. Scott Kazmir, fresh off contract extension, will counter for Tampa Bay. Game time is slated for 4:10 p.m.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)