They're still fighting.
Sidney Ponson made one mistake, but Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi combined to knock in five runs and Hideki Matsui added three hits and an RBI as the
Yanks stopped the Mariners 7-4 at Safeco Field. This was a pretty good ballgame that featured great defense (especially in the first five innings), big hits and a ton of managerial moves.
Not bad for two teams that entered play a combined 40 games out of first place.
The Bombers built a 2-0 lead thanks to solo homers from Abreu and Giambi, but Raul Ibanez took Ponson deep for a three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth. But the Yanks battled back and scored five times in the top of the seventh. Brian Bruney pitched a clean seventh and Joba Chamberlain fell into trouble after recording two quick outs in the eighth, but Mariano Rivera bailed him out and recorded his 33rd save of the season.
The daunting task continues, however. The Yanks are 7.5 games behind Boston in the wild card hunt with 20 games remaining.
Mike Mussina (17-7, 3.39 ERA) will try and give the Yanks the rubber game Sunday afternoon. The Mariners will counter with Carlos Silva (4-14, 6.53 ERA). Silva has been a disaster since coming over from the Minnesota Twins. It started well -- Silva went 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in April, but it has been a freefall from hell the rest of the way. Silva is 0-5 in his past nine starts and hasn't won a ballgame since June 28 against the San Diego Padres. Silva is 0-2 with a 13.00 ERA in two starts against the Bombers this season. Mussina gave up 10 hits in six innings in his last start against the Tampa Bay Rays, but came away with the victory. The Yankees have won the past seven games in which Mussina has started. The Moose is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season and is 19-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 29 career games against the Mariners.
A 20th career victory against the M's would push Mussina a little closer to 20 wins on the season.
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