The beginning of the Sexson Era

The Yankees are 1-0 with Richie Sexson, as the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-1 Friday night. See, he is already making a difference.

After Mike Mussina allowed three hits and one run in the first inning, Sexson quickly earned his pinstripes. He hit a two-out RBI single to center to tie the game. He finished 1-for-3 with one RBI, one walk and one strikeout.

After that, the Yankees rolled. Robinson Cano hit a two-out three-run home run in the third. Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez had two-out RBI hits in the fourth. Are you sensing a trend?

Abreu, Cano and Melky Cabrera had two hits. Rodriguez had three hits, including his 20th home run of the season and 538th of his career.

Mussina pitched six innings, allowing nine hits and one earned run. He struck out six and walked none en route to his 12th win of the season. He lowered his ERA to 3.49 in the process as well.

David Robertson, Edwar Ramirez and LaTroy Hawkins each pitched one perfect inning. Robertson struck out the side in the seventh.

The two teams will do it again tomorrow afternoon. Justin Duchscherer, tomorrow's scheduled starter, has been pushed back to Sunday. Sean Gallagher, originally slated for Sunday, will start tomorrow instead.