|
Wang wins sixth in a row as Yankees top Mariners
2008-05-03
Wang Chien-ming became the American League's first six-game winner when he pitched the New York Yankees to a 5-1 home win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday. The right-hander from Taiwan (6-0) did not allow a run until the sixth inning and the victory ended the Yankees' three-game slide. "You feel really good when he takes the mound," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "He's won 38 games the last two years." Wang, who improved to 7-0 against the Mariners, said his aim was to put the Yankees in a winning position. "I just keep the game close and give my team a chance to win," he told reporters. "My control wasn't this good back in spring training. It just keeps getting better." Wang had problems with his release in the fifth inning. The Yankees staff decided Wang had a cramp in his pitching hand and pulled him after the sixth. "Once he had that cramp in the hand, we just figured it's best to get him out," Girardi said. "It's a close ballgame, and if it cramps up and he makes a mistake with a pitch, it can cost you. He did his job, and we were allowed to use our bullpen." Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera pitched the remaining three innings. New York's opening run came from Hideki Matsui's first-inning single and they made it 3-0 off Melky Cabrera's two-run double in the second. Seattle scored on Raul Ibanez's ground out in the sixth but New York added two more runs in the eighth inning -- Morgan Ensberg driving in the first and Jose Molina's sacrifice fly producing the second. Erik Bedard (2-1) started for Seattle, pitching seven innings and giving up three runs. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
With Wang sidelined, Yankees call on journeyman Giese (2008-06-18)Perez leads Mets to 2-game sweep at Yankee Stadium (2008-05-19)Wang wins sixth in a row as Yankees top Mariners (2008-05-03)Wang's fifth consecutive win helps Yankees top Indians (2008-04-28)Wang's two-hitter leads Yankees to win over Red Sox (2008-04-12)
| 
